Red field poppy (Papaver rhoeas) - stock photo

Poppies are herbaceous plants (Latin name: Papaveraceae).Red poppies have become a symbol of remembrance for the dead of world wars. This is because of the battles fought in Northern France and Belgium where the red field poppy (papaver rhoeas) provided rare colour in a landscape turned into a wasteland by war.2014 is the centenary of the start of World War I, and so the poppy will assume special significance this year when the dead are remembered in November.