Meconopsis lancifolia

Height: Though often only 8–20 cm high at maturity, some plants may reach 35 cm while flowering, and up to 42 cm tall while fruiting.[2]

Stems: Erect stem 3.7–25 cm long, 5–13 mm in diameter near the base. Ascending to patent-reflexed, tawny-coloured, soft bristles typically cover the stems, sometimes densely, though occasionally stems may be more or less glabrous.[2]

Leaves: Entire to slightly sinuate[2] or pinnately lobed[3] leaves are borne in a basal rosette,[2][3] are green or greyish-green above and are a paler, somewhat glaucous colour beneath, and measure between 2–16-[2] 25[3] cm in length, and 0.5-2.2 cm in width, tapering gradually at the base. Leaves are sparsely bristly[4] or have a variable number of bristles;[3] bristles are not dark at the base.[4] Lamina are elliptic-lanceolate to elliptic-oblanceolate, narrow-oblanceolate, or more rarely linear-lanceolate. Petioles are 1.5–9 cm in length.[2]

Flowers: 2.6–8.2 cm across, with 4–[2][3] 8–[3] 11[2] satiny deep-blue[2] to violet,[3] to indigo-purple,[2][3] more rarely pinkish,[2] or very rarely light blue[3] petals. Petals measure 13–32 mm x 10–32 mm. Flowers June–early August.

Flowers are typically significantly darker than those of Meconopsis grandis or Meconopsis horridula.[3]

Fruit: oblong-ellipsoid to subcylindric green capsules with purple ribs ripening to brown.[2]

Meconopsis lancifolia does not appear to have ever been in cultivation,[3] or is rare in cultivation[4] despite substantial efforts by Forrest. Taylor considered that the generally weak characteristics of the bulbous root implied that it was a difficult plant. However, as it is so widespread, it is genetically quite variable, and so perhaps some forms are more adaptable than others. The standard well-fed, winter dry, summer wet may require some modification for success, with less emphasis on the summer wet.[3]

In the wild, it is particularly associated with limestone habitats,[3] including stony alpine meadows, rocky slopes, screes, moraines,[2][3] stony and rocky pastures, open low moorland scrub, and alpine moorland.[2] Prefers less sunny exposures.[3]

Widespread across China,[3] specifically in western China, from southwest Gansu to northwest Yunnan, east and southeast Tibet, western Sichuan; the Cangshan, Yulongxueshan, and the mountains of the Mekong-Salween and Mekong-Yangtze divides.[2]

Also native to north Myanmar.[2]

Meconopsis is derived from the Greek for 'poppy-like' (μήκον mēkon, ‘poppy’; ὄψις ópsis, ‘aspect’), while lancifolia is from the Latin for 'with sharply pointed leaves' (lancea ‘poppy’; folia ‘leaves’).[5]