Herbs, annual, biennial, or perennial, caulescent, glaucous, from taproots; sap yellow. Stems leafy, sometimes becoming woody at base. Leaves: basal rosulate, petiolate; cauline alternate, sessile; blades 1-2× pinnately lobed [unlobed]. Inflorescences axillary or terminal, 1-flowered; bracts present. Flowers: sepals 2, distinct; petals 4; stamens many; pistil 2-carpellate; ovary 2-locular; style absent or indistinct; stigma 2-lobed. Capsules erect, 2-valved, dehiscing from apex [base]. Seeds many, dark brown, reticulate-pitted, embedded in pithy septum, aril absent. x = 6.

Distribution

North America, Europe, c, sw Asia.

Discussion

Species 20-25 (2 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Glaucium corniculatum, Glaucium flavum

Key

1	Basal leaves few, glabrate to moderately pubescent; blades of distal leaves not distinctly clasping stem; petals orange to reddish orange, usually with blackish basal spot; capsules straight to slightly curved, pubescent or glabrate.	Glaucium corniculatum
1	Basal leaves numerous, densely pubescent; distal blades of distal leaves distinctly clasping stem; petals yellow or orange-yellow, sometimes with reddish to violet basal spot; capsules mostly distinctly curved, glabrous, tuberculate, or scabrous.	Glaucium flavum