Papaver radicatum, growing in Greenland
Today’s Botany Photo of the Day is Papaver radicatum, or Arctic poppy. A member of the poppy family (Papaveraceae), Papaver radicatum is a common perennial plant found in arctic and alpine regions of Europe, North America, and Asia. According to the Flora of North America, there are four subspecies recognized in the North American flora.
These poppies are hardy, stress-tolerant plants that can survive the harsh conditions found in these environments–somewhat surprising given their outward form, characterized by delicate blooms! They grow in a range of habitats, including dry gravelly soils and meadows. This species is found on the Nunavut coat of arms, signaling its abundance in the northern Canada.
Papaver radicatum flowers are pale yellow to white. The flowers are also heliotropic, following the path of the sun. Plants have hairy (hirsute) stems that are 10–15 cm long, often growing in clumps.
Due to the circumpolar distribution of these species, they are exposed to extended periods of sunlight (24 hours of sunlight in the High Arctic!). The flowers are also parabolic; temperatures are highest in the centre of the flowers because of this, as the sun’s rays are directed inwards. This is important for insect species, as they take advantage of the more favourable conditions found within these flowers. These insects include pollinators, such as Bombus polaris, an Arctic bumblebee species (and one of the main pollinators).
Papaver radicatum is an indicator of climate change in the Arctic. Early flowering has been found to occur with warmer temperatures, which could result in a trophic mismatch (see Mølgaard and Christensen, 1997, Response to experimental warming in a population of Papaver radicatum in Greenland. Global Change Biology, 3:116–124).
Daniel, Thank you for educating us laypersons with the occasional scientific terms explained. Today: heliotropic and parabolic
When you say “trophic mismatch” do you mean that pollinators would not be in season at an earlier flowering time? I followed the link but did not elect to pay to read the full article (am not a subscriber to the journal).
Also, I’m wondering if populations of pollinators would be affected the same way at the same rate as the flowers in the case of a universal warming trend, rather than an artificial warming of just one area.
As always, an interesting discussion.
thanks!
This is the BPoD entry style I love! It is short, concise, and keeps me on my “Botanical Toes” with info about heliotropism, parabolic flowers, and hirsute stems.
I do wish there had been a tiny bit of explanation about Trophic Mismatch instead of a link. I am assuming trophic mismatch could mean flora and fauna may be out of sync, which is similar to what Doug Tallamy is finding with the planting of non-natives. In his case he is finding the nutrients, sugars, fats, etc. are out of sync with indigenous fauna needs. As in I may have an Asian shrub with berries that birds are consuming, but they are getting sugars in the fall when they were actually needed in the summer (for fledgling babies) when native berries in the fall have fats for energy to migrate or build fat stores winter.