Oreomecon alpina

Oreomecon alpina
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Ranunculales
Family:	Papaveraceae
Genus:	Oreomecon
Species:	O. alpina
Binomial name
Oreomecon alpina (L.) Banfi, Bartolucci, J.-M.Tison & Galasso
Subspecies [1]
O. a. subsp. alpina O. a. subsp. fatraemagnae O. a. subsp. tatrica
Synonyms [1]
Papaver alpinum Papaver nudicaule subsp. alpinum

Oreomecon alpina, synonym Papaver alpinum, the Alpine poppy or dwarf poppy, is a poppy found in the Alps. The circumscription of the species varies considerably. In some treatments, the species is one of a group of related species, and includes several subspecies, four of which are found in Austria. In other treatments, it includes species that have been treated as separate, and has at most one subspecies. ^[2]

Description

The Alpine poppy is a short, upright, hairy perennial with all basal leaves. The flower grows to a height of 5 to 25 centimeters, with several upright and hairy stems. ^[3]

The flowers are hermaphroditic and radially symmetric, with a diameter of 2 to 5 cm. The flower petals are usually white to yellow, but can also be light to quite orange or red. ^[4] The flowering period is from July to August. ^[3]

All Alpine poppy subspecies have a strong taproot and make a good rockery plant. The root hairs are angled upwards, which helps secure the plant.

Taxonomy

Oreomecon alpina was given the scientific name Papaver alpinum in 1753 by Linnaeus. ^[1] It was moved to the new genus Oreomecon in 2021 by Enrico Augusto Banfi, Fabrizio Bartolucci, Jean-Marc Tison, and Gabriele Galasso giving the species its accepted name. ^[5]

Subspecies

Three subspecies are accepted according to Plants of the World Online:

• Oreomecon alpina subsp. alpina
  The autonymic subspecies is widespread in Europe from France to Poland and as far south as Bulgaria. ^[6]
• Oreomecon alpina subsp. fatraemagnae
  Native to just the former Czechoslovakia. It was described for the first time in 2002. ^[7]
• Oreomecon alpina subsp. tatrica
  This subspecies is limited to just the western Carpathian Mountains. It was first described in 1942. ^[8]

Oreomecon alpina has a large number of synonyms, 97 according Plants of the World Online, including 16 species. ^[9]

Table of Synonyms

Name	Year	Rank	Synonym of:	Notes
Oreomecon alpina subsp. degenii(Urum. & Jáv.) Elvebakk & Bjerke	2024	subspecies	subsp. alpina	= het.
Oreomecon alpina subsp. ernesti-mayeri(Markgr.) Elvebakk & Bjerke	2024	subspecies	subsp. alpina	= het.
Oreomecon alpina subsp. kerneri(Hayek) Elvebakk & Bjerke	2024	subspecies	subsp. alpina	= het.
Oreomecon alpina subsp. markgrafianaElvebakk & Bjerke	2024	subspecies	subsp. alpina	= het., nom. superfl.
Oreomecon alpina subsp. occidentalis(Markgr.) Elvebakk & Bjerke	2024	subspecies	subsp. alpina	= het.
Oreomecon alpina subsp. sendtneri(A.Kern. ex Hayek) Elvebakk & Bjerke	2024	subspecies	subsp. alpina	= het.
Oreomecon alpina subsp. victoris(Škornik. & Wraber) Elvebakk & Bjerke	2024	subspecies	subsp. alpina	= het.
Oreomecon aurantiaca(Loisel.) Elvebakk & Bjerke	2024	species	subsp. alpina	= het.
Oreomecon tatrica(A.Nyár.) Krivenko	2023	species	subsp. tatrica	≡ hom.
Papaver alpinumL.	1753	species	O. alpina	≡ hom.
Papaver alpinum var. albiflorumHausm.	1851	variety	subsp. alpina	= het., nom. illeg.
Papaver alpinum var. albiflorumW.D.J.Koch	1836	variety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum f. albiflorum(Hausm.) Asch.	1869	form	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum lusus albiflorum(W.D.J.Koch) Asch.	1869	sport	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum var. albumNeilr.	1859	variety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum var. angustiusMarkgr.	1958	variety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subvar. angustiusMarkgr.	1958	subvariety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum var. aurantiacum(Loisel.) Markgr.	1958	variety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subvar. aurantiacum(Loisel.) Markgr.	1958	subvariety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subvar. biconvex(A.Nyár.) Markgr.	1958	subvariety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subsp. burseri(Crantz) Fedde	1909	subspecies	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum var. burseri(Crantz) Bolzon	1914	variety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum proles burseri(Crantz) Rouy & Foucaud	1893	proles	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subvar. citrinumMarkgr.	1958	subvariety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum f. decipiens(Rouy & Foucaud) Bolzon	1903	form	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subsp. degenii(Urum. & Jáv.) Markgr.	1958	subspecies	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subvar. degenii(Urum. & Jáv.) Markgr.	1958	subvariety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subvar. elegans(A.Nyár.) Markgr.	1958	subvariety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subsp. ernesti-mayeriMarkgr.	1958	subspecies	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum lusus europaeumRegel	1862	sport	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subvar. fallacinum(Bornm.) Markgr.	1958	subvariety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subsp. flaviflorum(W.D.J.Koch) Arcang.	1882	subspecies	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum var. flaviflorumW.D.J.Koch	1835	variety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum var. flavumNeilr.	1859	variety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subf. glabrescensBolzon	1914	subform	subsp. alpina	= het., nom. illeg.
Papaver alpinum subvar. hirsutumMarkgr.	1958	subvariety	subsp. alpina	= het., nom. illeg.
Papaver alpinum subf. hispidumBolzon	1914	subform	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subvar. igneumMarkgr.	1958	subvariety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum var. intermediumSchinz & R.Keller	1905	variety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subvar. intermedium(Schinz & R.Keller) Markgr.	1958	subvariety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum var. julicum(E.Mayer & Merxm.) Á.Löve & D.Löve	1974	variety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subsp. kerneri(Hayek) Fedde	1909	subspecies	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum var. kerneri(Hayek) Markgr.	1958	variety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subvar. kerneri(Hayek) Markgr.	1958	subvariety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subvar. lancifolium(A.Nyár.) Markgr.	1958	subvariety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum var. occidentaleMarkgr.	1958	variety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum var. pseudobiconvexA.Nyár.	1942	variety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subvar. pseudobiconvex(A.Nyár.) Markgr.	1958	subvariety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum var. pseudoelegansA.Nyár.	1942	variety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subvar. pseudoelegans(A.Nyár.) Markgr.	1958	subvariety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subvar. puniceumMarkgr.	1958	subvariety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subsp. rhaeticum(Leresche) Nyman	1889	subspecies	subsp. alpina	= het., nom. superfl.
Papaver alpinum var. rhaeticum(Leresche) Markgr.	1958	variety	subsp. alpina	= het., nom. superfl.
Papaver alpinum f. rhaeticum(Leresche) Bolzon	1910	form	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum proles rhaeticum(Leresche) Rouy & Foucaud	1893	proles	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subvar. roseolum(Hayek) Markgr.	1958	subvariety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subvar. rubellumMarkgr.	1958	subvariety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subvar. rubicundum(Bornm.) Markgr.	1958	subvariety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subsp. sendtneri(A.Kern. ex Hayek) Schinz & R.Keller	1909	subspecies	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subvar. sendtneri(A.Kern. ex Hayek) Markgr.	1958	subvariety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subvar. subminiatumMarkgr.	1958	subvariety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subvar. sulphurellum(Widder) Markgr.	1958	subvariety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subsp. tatricumA.Nyár.	1942	subspecies	subsp. tatrica	≡ hom.
Papaver alpinum var. tatricum(A.Nyár.) Markgr.	1958	variety	subsp. tatrica	≡ hom.
Papaver alpinum var. widderiMarkgr.	1958	variety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver alpinum subvar. widderiMarkgr.	1958	subvariety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver aurantiacumLoisel.	1809	species	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver burseriCrantz	1763	species	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver burseri var. bicolorRchb.	1838	variety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver burseri var. biconvexA.Nyár.	1942	variety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver burseri var. elegansA.Nyár.	1942	variety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver burseri var. sulphurellumWidder	1932	variety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver decipiensRouy & Foucaud	1893	species	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver degenii(Urum. & Jáv.) Kuzmanov	1970	species	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver julicumE.Mayer & Merxm.	1960	species	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver kerneriHayek	1903	species	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver lapponicum subsp. occidentale(Markgr.) Knaben	1959	subspecies	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver nudicaule subsp. alpinum(L.) Elkan	1839	subspecies	O. alpina	≡ hom.
Papaver nudicaule var. flaviflorumEklan	1839	variety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver occidentale(Markgr.) H.E.Hess & Landolt	1972	species	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver pyrenaicum var. albiflorum(Hausm.) Dalla Torre	1882	variety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver pyrenaicum subsp. aurantiacum(Loisel.) Fedde	1905	subspecies	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver pyrenaicum var. aurantiacum(Loisel.) Dalla Torre	1882	variety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver pyrenaicum aurantiacum(Loisel.) Farrer	1919		subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver pyrenaicum subsp. degeniiUrum. & Jáv.	1920	subspecies	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver pyrenaicum var. lancifoliumA.Nyár.	1942	variety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver pyrenaicum subsp. rhaeticum(Leresche) Fedde	1909	subspecies	subsp. alpina	= het., nom. superfl.
Papaver pyrenaicum var. rubicundumBornm.	1927	variety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver pyrenaicum subsp. sendtneri(A.Kern. ex Hayek) Fedde	1909	subspecies	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver rhaeticumLeresche	1874	species	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver sendtneriA.Kern. ex Hayek	1903	species	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver sendtneri var. fallacinumBornm.	1927	variety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver sendtneri var. roseolumHayek	1908	variety	subsp. alpina	= het.
Papaver suaveolensLapeyr.	1818	species	subsp. alpina	= het., nom. superfl.
Papaver tatricum(A.Nyár.) Ehrend.	1973	species	subsp. tatrica	≡ hom.
Papaver tatricum subsp. fatraemagnaeBernátová	2002	subspecies	subsp. fatraemagnae	≡ hom.
Papaver victorisŠkornik. & Wraber	1988	species	subsp. alpina	= het.
Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym  ; = heterotypic synonym

Chemistry

The alkaloids amurensine and amurensinine can be found in O. alpina. ^[10]

References

Citations

1. POWO 2025b.
2. Schönswetter, Peter; Solstad, Heidi; Escobar García, Pedro & Elven, Reidar (2009), "A combined Molecular and Morphological Approach to the Taxonomically Intricate European Mountain Plant Papaver alpinum s.l. (Papaveraceae) — Taxa or Informal Phylogeographical Groups?", Taxon, 58 (4): 1326–1343, doi:10.1002/tax.584020, JSTOR   27757020
3. Pohler 1985, p. 118.
4. Grey-Wilson 1993, p. 135.
5. POWO 2025a; POWO 2025b.
6. POWO 2025c.
7. POWO 2025d.
8. POWO 2025e.
9. POWO 2025b; POWO 2025c; POWO 2025d; POWO 2025e.
10. The isopavine structure of amurensine and amurensinine. F. Šantavý, M. Maturová and L. Hruban, Chem. Commun. (London), 1966, pages 36-36, doi : 10.1039/C19660000036

Sources

Books

• Bittkau C, Kadereit JW. 2002. Phylogenetic and geographical relationships in Papaver alpinum L. (Papaveraceae) based on RAPD data. Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie 123: 463–479.
• Grey-Wilson, Christopher (1993). Poppies : A Guide to the Poppy Family in the Wild and in Cultivation . Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. pp. 145–146. ISBN   978-0-88192-232-5 . Retrieved 18 December 2025.
• Pohler, Alfred (1985). Enchanting Alpine Flowers . Translated by Schweighofer, Jacqueline. Oetz, Austria: Verlag Lohmann. OCLC   727702584 . Retrieved 18 December 2025.

Web sources

• POWO (2025a). "Oreomecon Banfi, Bartolucci, J.-M.Tison & Galasso". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 18 December 2025.
• POWO (2025b). "Oreomecon alpina (L.) Banfi, Bartolucci, J.-M.Tison & Galasso". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 18 December 2025.
• POWO (2025c). "Oreomecon alpina subsp. alpina". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 18 December 2025.
• POWO (2025d). "Oreomecon alpina subsp. fatraemagnae (Bernátová) Elvebakk & Bjerke". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 18 December 2025.
• POWO (2025e). "Oreomecon alpina subsp. tatrica (A.Nyár.) Elvebakk & Bjerke". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 18 December 2025.