Ahabasil Poppy
| Ahabasil Poppy Conservation status: Least Concern | ||||||||||||||||
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| P. ahabasiulle | ||||||||||||||||
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The Ahabasil Poppy is a wild poppy of agricultural cultivation. In Domnonia it generally flowers in late spring, but if the weather is warm enough other flowers frequently appear at the beginning of autumn. It has a variety of common names that differ from nation to nation in the IDU.
Appearance
The Ahabasil Poppy is an annual plant. The four petals are vivid red, most commonly with a black spot at their base.
Occurrence
Its origin is not known for certain. As with many such plants, the area of origin is often ascribed by Domini to the Mainland IDU, and by the mainland to the Ayyubid Archipelago. The Domini Federal Botanical Gardens suggests that it is of ‘Ayyubid and Nieuwe-Goudan descent’; in other words, the lands where agriculture has been practiced since the earliest times.
Native
Domnonia Most of the mainland IDU
Non-Native
Significance
It is known to have been associated with agriculture in Old Domini since early times. It has most of the characteristics of a weed. These include an annual lifecycle that fits into that of most weeds, a tolerance of simple weed control methods, the ability to flower and seed itself before the crop is harvested. Like many such weeds, it also shows the tendency to become a crop in its own right; its seed is a moderately useful commodity, and its flower is edible.
It has had an old symbolism and association with agricultural fertility.
The leaves are mildly poisonous to grazing animals. The seed is harmless and is used sometimes as a condiment. The commonly used parts of the poppy are the seeds (in baking), the fresh green parts as vegetable, and the red petals by making syrups and alcoholic/non-alcoholic drinks. Red poppy syrup is a traditional beverage of Indigenous Domini.
Domini people associate the Ahabasil Poppy with Confederation, as it grows in every province and territory. The poppy was also seriously considered as a possible "National Flower", but was dismissed in favour of the Inlad Blue Lotus.
