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'''Opium poppy''', '''''Papaver somniferum var. album''''', is the [[species]] of [[plant]] from which [[opium]] and [[poppy seed]]s are extracted. Opium is the source of many [[opiate]]s, including [[morphine]], [[thebaine]], [[codeine]], [[papaverine]], and [[noscapine]]. The Latin botanical name means, loosely, the "sleep-bringing poppy, white form", referring to the [[narcotic]] property of some of these opiates.
The poppy is the only species of [[Papaveraceae]] that is an [[agriculture|agricultural]] crop grown on a large scale. Other species, ''[[Papaver rhoeas]]'' and ''[[Papaver argemone]]'', are important agricultural weeds, and may be mistaken for the crop.
The plant itself is also valuable for ornamental purposes, and has been known as the "common garden poppy", referencing all the group of poppy plants.
Poppy seeds of ''Papaver somniferum'' are an important food item and the source of [[poppyseed oil]]. It is widely grown as an ornamental flower throughout Europe, North America, South America, and Asia.
[[File:Poppy from above.JPG|thumb|right|A red opium poppy flower used for ornamental purposes]]
Once known as the "common garden poppy", live plants and seeds of the opium poppy are widely sold by seed companies and nurseries in most of the western world, including the United States. Poppies are sought after by gardeners for the vivid coloration of the blooms, the hardiness and reliability of the poppy plants, the exotic chocolate-vegetal fragrance note of some cultivars, and the ease of growing the plants from purchased flats of seedlings or by direct sowing of the seed. Poppy seed pods are also sold for dried flower arrangements.
It has been suggested that, since "opium poppy and poppy straw" are listed in Schedule II of the United States' [[Controlled Substances Act]], a [[DEA]] license may be required to grow poppies in ornamental or display gardens. In fact the legal status of strictly ornamental poppy gardens is more nuanced, with destruction of ornamental poppy installations or prosecution of gardeners (except those caught extracting opium via capsule scarification or tea extraction) virtually unheard of.<ref name=erowid /> During the early spring, opium poppies will be seen flowering in gardens throughout North America and Europe, with beautiful installations being found in many private planters, as well as public botanical and museum gardens (e.g. [http://www8.georgetown.edu/departments/physiology/cam/urbanherbs/urban_others.htm United States Botanical Garden], [http://www.eol.org/pages/594796 Missouri Botanical Garden], [http://www.flickr.com/photos/birdyboo/sets/72157605614393377/detail/ North Carolina Botanical Garden], [http://www.erowid.org/plants/show_image.php?i=poppy/papaver_somniferum8.jpg residential garden, Seattle, WA], and [http://local.floridata.com/Opium_Poppy_Hartford_CT-r1191238-Hartford_CT.html residential garden, Hartford, CT]).
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Papaver somniferum, Linn. (P. opilferum, Forsk. P. nigrum, Crantz). Opium Poppy. Fig. 2751. Robust, glaucous and glabrous annual, 3-4 ft. high, with fls. 4-5 in. across, much larger than those of any annual kind: lvs. oblong, unequally toothed at the base; st.-lvs. cordate at the base, sinuate-repand to dentate-serrate, very glaucous, clasping: fl.-bud ovoid-oblong, somewhat obtuse at apex, glabrous; petals orbiculate, entire, undulate or cut, from white through pink and red to purple, but not yellow or blue : caps, globose, glabrous, with a flat 8-12-lobed disk. Greece, Orient.— Sparingly run wild in N. Amer. Very variable in color of seeds, characters of caps., and form and color of petals. Var. album, DC. (P. officinale, Gmel.), has fls. and seeds white: caps, ovate-globose.
Papaver somniferum, Linn. (P. opilferum, Forsk. P. nigrum, Crantz). Opium Poppy. Fig. 2751. Robust, glaucous and glabrous annual, 3-4 ft. high, with fls. 4-5 in. across, much larger than those of any annual kind: lvs. oblong, unequally toothed at the base; st.-lvs. cordate at the base, sinuate-repand to dentate-serrate, very glaucous, clasping: fl.-bud ovoid-oblong, somewhat obtuse at apex, glabrous; petals orbiculate, entire, undulate or cut, from white through pink and red to purple, but not yellow or blue : caps, globose, glabrous, with a flat 8-12-lobed disk. Greece, Orient.— Sparingly run wild in N. Amer. Very variable in color of seeds, characters of caps., and form and color of petals. Var. album, DC. (P. officinale, Gmel.), has fls. and seeds white: caps, ovate-globose.
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==Species==
==Varieties==
''Papaver somniferum'' has many sub-species or varieties and [[cultivar]]s. Colors of the [[flower]] vary widely, as do other physical characteristics such as number and shape of petals, number of flowers and fruits, number of seeds, color of seeds, production of morphine, etc.
''Papaver somniferum'' Paeoniflorum Group (sometimes called ''Papaver paeoniflorum'') is a sub-type of opium poppy whose flowers are highly double, and are grown in many colors. ''Papaver somniferum'' Laciniatum Group (sometimes called ''Papaver laciniatum'') is a sub-type of opium poppy whose flowers are highly double and deeply lobed, to the point of looking like a ruffly [[pompon]].
A few of the varieties, notably the Norman and Przemko varieties, have low morphine content (less than one percent), but have much higher concentrations of other alkaloids. Most varieties, however, including those most popular for ornamental use or seed production, have a higher morphine content, with the average content being 10%.
==Gallery==
==Gallery==