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Re: P.somniferum, the full works


 I have grown Papaver Somniferum, the opium poppy, for many years,
Allan Day  Hereford HR2 7AU allan@crwys.demon.co.uk

To quote from Geoffrey Smith's World of Flowers:- "Oldest (poppy) in
cultivation, P. Somniferum, the opium poppy, grows wild in Greece and
the Orient. The very large red, purple, pink, or white flowers carried
above grey, green leaves followed by the ornamental seed pods, make an
imposing picture. The variety "Pink Chiffon" has double pink flowers and
is an attractive plant. That this species was originally grown for
edible seeds seems very probable, for I can find no mention of this
plant's narcotic ptoperties in early writings on the subject.  The seeds
do yield a nutty-flavoured, nutritious oil, and this was used instead of
olive or almond oil for cooking.  Nothing was wasted in the process, as
the mash left after the expression was fed to cattle or poultry.  The
seeds mixed with flour and honey were also made into cakes.  Apart from
being the source of opium which is the principle product of Papaver
Somniferum, the seed heads were used to make a sedative in syrup form
and as a hot poultice for external application

The drug opium is derived from the milky sap which exudes from incicions
made in the half-ripe seed capsule.  Opium possesses sedative powers, is
a valuable medicine, and yelds the pain-killing druh known as morphine.
When abused, it destroys the health amd mind of the body.
.........
In present day seed catalogues there are many varieties on offer.....
p.somn. paeonifloorum with double paeony-like flowers is simplified in
modern catalogues to paeony-flowered double mixed. Seed sown in April
into well-drained sunny corners will in due season yield plants 2 1/2
ft. high bearing full double flowers in many and varied colours.To get
the best effect the seedlings must be thinned to stand 12 to 15 inches
apart. The old fashioned Latin form 'mursellii' has been translated to
the easily inderstood carnation-flowered, which accurately describes the
attractively fringed, brightly coloured petals."

So don't put that in your pipe and smoke it!   :-)

 Allan Day  Hereford HR2 7AU allan@crwys Flowers:-.demon.co.uk
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