In the Netherlands poppies grow mainly on dry, sandy ground that has recently been flattened, such as on railway embankments or on sandy plains. The seeds of the poppy keep their germinative power for a very long time underground and germinate when they come to the surface, sometimes after years. The poppy is therefore a real pioneer plant.
It used to be thought that the plant grew on the spot where someone was murdered and that the blood was absorbed by the plant and stored in the petals. Therefore, it was thought that this was the cause of the many poppies on the battlefield. In reality, the cause is that the seeds only germinate when exposed to light. As the battlefield was turned over, the seeds came to light and germinated.
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