opium poppy

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• garden poppy
• opium poppy
• breadseed poppy
• oilseed poppy
• small opium poppy
• wild poppy

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Ranunculales, it is classified under the family Papaveraceae. Ultimately, the medicinal species is identified by its genus, Papaver.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Papaver somniferum, exhibits a specific presence across several regions in Northern Europe. Its geographical distribution includes the coastal landscapes of Denmark and the northern terrains of Finland. Furthermore, it can be found growing within the territories of Great Britain. The species also extends its range to the island of Iceland. Finally, its distribution reaches the lush environments of Ireland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Papaver somniferum is characterized by a broad adaptability to varying topographical settings, spanning a significant vertical gradient from sea level up to an elevation of 3500 m AMSL. While the species is commonly found inhabiting lowland habitats, its ability to persist across diverse altitudes allows it to colonize a wide range of environmental conditions. This expansive elevational range, stretching from 0 m AMSL to its maximum limit of 3500 m AMSL, enables the plant to occupy various ecological niches depending on local climatic and soil compositions.

Elevational range max:

3500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Papaver somniferum is characterized by its status as an annual plant, completing its entire developmental cycle from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, it survives unfavorable environmental conditions through the production of hardy seeds rather than maintaining persistent above-ground structures. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as it reaches the end of its lifecycle or in response to seasonal shifts. This life strategy allows the species to rapidly exploit favorable climatic windows, transitioning through its vegetative and reproductive phases before the onset of dormancy in its seed form.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Papaver somniferum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. As a terrestrial and independent plant, it does not function as an epiphyte or a parasite, relying instead on its own structural integrity. The plant is self-supporting rather than being a climber, liana, or vine. In terms of stature, its height is variable, with recorded dimensions ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 1.5 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.65 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.65 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Papaver somniferum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing a standard carbon fixation process typical of many temperate herbaceous plants. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies entirely on soil-derived nutrients and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, requiring external nitrogen availability for growth. Its vegetative structure is defined by oblong-shaped leaves that exhibit significant morphological variability; leaf lengths typically average 16 cm, ranging from a minimum of 7 cm to a maximum of 25 cm, with a mean width of 8.5 cm. This results in an average leaf size of approximately 103.98 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 382.3 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf thickness and the efficiency of its light-harvesting surface area relative to its biomass.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

oblong

Leaf length max:

25 cm

Leaf length mean:

16 cm

Leaf length min:

7 cm

Leaf size mean:

103.98 cm²

Leaf width mean:

8.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

382.3 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Papaver somniferum is primarily sexual, characterized by bisexual flowers that facilitate the production of offspring. The flowering period typically begins in June and extends through August, featuring violet-colored blossoms that vary in size, with flower lengths ranging from 2 to 6 cm and widths between 2 and 7 cm. Pollination is a biotic process driven by insects, specifically bees, and self-fertilization is notably absent, ensuring genetic diversity through cross-pollination. Following successful fertilization, the plant develops a dry capsule fruit. These capsules exhibit a mean length of 3.65 cm (reaching up to 9 cm) and a mean width of 2.9 cm (up to 6 cm), with dimensions as small as 2 cm in both directions. The fruit is dehiscent, allowing for seed release. Each capsule is highly prolific, containing more than 1,000 seeds. The individual seeds are quite small, with a mean mass of 0.0003435 g (ranging from 0.00025 g to 0.00043 g) and a consistent volume of approximately 0.27 mm³. Seed dispersal is achieved through an anemochorous (wind-based) syndrome, though it is also categorized as unspecialized in its dispersal strategy. Asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flower colour :

violet

Flower length max:

6 cm

Flower length min:

2 cm

Flower width max:

7 cm

Flower width min:

2 cm

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

9 cm

Fruit length mean:

3.65 cm

Fruit length min:

2 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

6 cm

Fruit width mean:

2.9 cm

Fruit width min:

2 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.00043 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0003435 g

Seed mass min:

0.00025 g

Seed volume max:

0.27 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Papaver somniferum has 6 reported plant parts identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, root, stem, flower, fruit.

Seed

1. Frontiers in microbiology
2. International journal of molecular sciences
3. Planta medica

Root

1. Journal of natural products
2. Biochemistry

Stem

1. Journal of natural products
2. Biochemistry

Flower

1. Journal of natural products

Fruit

1. Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research

Leaf

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Papaver somniferum has 281 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include morphine, codeine, THEBAINE, SANGUINARINE, noscapine.

morphine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Bulletin on narcotics
3. Forensic science international
4. Frontiers in microbiology
5. Nature communications

codeine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Nature communications
3. International journal of legal medicine
4. Clinical chemistry
5. Journal of experimental botany

THEBAINE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Forensic science international
3. Frontiers in microbiology
4. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics
5. International journal of legal medicine

SANGUINARINE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant & cell physiology
3. Kokuritsu Iyakuhin Shokuhin Eisei Kenkyujo hokoku = Bulletin of National Institute of Health Sciences
4. Plant physiology
5. Planta

noscapine

1. Dr. Duke
2. ACS omega
3. Planta
4. International journal of biological macromolecules
5. Journal of separation science

Reticuline

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in microbiology
3. Science (New York, N.Y.)
4. Journal of natural products
5. Biochemistry

papaverine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Se pu = Chinese journal of chromatography
3. Planta medica
4. Pharmaceutical development and technology
5. Phytochemistry

Salutaridine

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Journal of biological chemistry
3. Science (New York, N.Y.)
4. Biochemistry

dopamine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics
3. The Journal of biological chemistry
4. Journal of natural products

Codeinone

1. Dr. Duke
2. European journal of biochemistry
3. The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology

Activities

Papaver somniferum has 672 reported activities identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Sedative, Antiallergic, Antibacterial, Antioxidant.

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of legal medicine
3. Therapeutic advances in psychopharmacology
4. Medical hypotheses
5. BioMed research international

Sedative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Therapeutic advances in psychopharmacology
3. Revista de neurologia

Antiallergic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine

Antitussive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine

Hypnotic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Toxicology reports

Narcotic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Studies in ancient medicine

Vasodilator

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta

(+)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Papaver somniferum has 28 reported medicinal uses identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include pain, analgesic, cough, morphine, AIDS.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations