Opium

Opium poppy - Photo by Brian Jeffery Beggerly

Opium poppy is the plant which is grown to produce opium and poppy seeds. It is used to produce many narcotics, such as morphine and heroin.

Names

Scientific
   Papaver somniferum
English
   Opium
   Opium poppy
   Poppy seed
Dutch
   Bolpapaver
   Maanzaad
   Opiumpapaver
   Slaapbol
Spanish
   Adormidera
   Planta del opio
French
   Pavot à opium
   Pavot des jardins
   Pavot somnifère
German
   Schlafmohn
Italian
   Papavero da oppio

Taxonomy

Genus
   Papaver
Family
   Papaveraceae
Order
   Ranunculales

Basic information and facts

Origin:

Distribution:

Annual, biennial, or perennial:

It is an annual herb.

Flowers:

Leaves:

Fruits:

Climate and weather:

Pollination:

Height:

The plant is usually to about 1 meter tall.

Spacing:

Propagation:

Insect pests:

Diseases:

Harvesting:

Uses:

Used to produce morphine, heroine and other narcotics.

Did you know that?

A relative of the Opium poppy is the Corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas), which is also known as Corn rose, Field poppy, Flanders poppy, Red poppy, or Red weed. It is not grown as a crop but is a well known weed that is used as a symbol of fallen soldiers.
The dried latex obtained from the opium poppy is called “poppy tears” (lachryma papaveris).
The scientific name “somniferum” means sleep-bringing.

Crop categories

Medicinal plants
Edible seeds
Vegetable oils
Ornamental plants
Subtropical crops
Temperate crops

Pictures