Wednesday, 21 October 2015

DESKTOP 813 - OPIUM POPPY

Papaver somniferum, the opium poppy, is the species of plant from which opium and poppy seeds are derived. Opium is the source of many drugs, including morphine (and its derivative heroin), thebaine, codeine, papaverine, and noscapine.

The Latin botanical name means the "sleep-bringing poppy", referring to the sedative properties of some of these opiates. The opium poppy is the only species of Papaveraceae that is an 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.

This poppy 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 poppy seed oil, a healthy edible oil that has many uses.

 This post is part of the Ruby Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Outdoor Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the ABC Wednesday meme.
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14 comments:

  1. LV21 October 2015 at 04:43

    Such a beautiful bloom. I have never tried to grow them.

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  2. Unknown21 October 2015 at 04:58

    Wonderful flower, one of my favourites, thank you for sharing

    Have a nice abc-day-week
    ♫ M e l ☺ d y ♫

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  3. Nonnie21 October 2015 at 05:42

    such a gorgeous, fragile flower, yet potent

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  4. Obsessivemom21 October 2015 at 06:10

    This red is gorgeous.

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  5. Light and Voices21 October 2015 at 07:35

    What a grand looking poppy.
    JM, IL

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  6. Anonymous21 October 2015 at 08:17

    Beautiful flower! Hard to wrap my brain around the fact that such a beautiful flower could be used for purposes that has brought so much grief!

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  7. carol l mckenna21 October 2015 at 11:18

    Magnificent floral macro shot for O!

    Happy Week to you,
    artmusedog and carol

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  8. Molly21 October 2015 at 12:15

    I love red flowers

    Mollyxxx

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  9. NCSue21 October 2015 at 14:04

    What a gorgeous bloom!
    Thanks for linking up at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2015/10/beach-walk-at-sunrise.html

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  10. Roger Owen Green22 October 2015 at 00:01

    THE US spent lots of money trying to get Afghans ot to grow them. The effort failed miserably.

    ROG, ABCW

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  11. Carin Diaz22 October 2015 at 07:51

    Interesting. I have been giving opiates to patients (with prescription) of course. I have never seen a picture of the plant.
    http://www.36hourworkweek.com/2015/10/outage.html

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  12. Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall23 October 2015 at 04:49

    cute flower,
    the redness gives us warmth.

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  13. betty-NZ24 October 2015 at 19:26

    The garden of our latest house was covered with pink ones and I just love them!

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  14. Priya28 October 2015 at 01:19

    Beautiful !!
    -Priya [softypinkngloriousred.wordpress.com]

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