Poppy

A poppy is one of a group of a flowering plants in the poppy family, many of which are grown in gardens for their colorful flowers. Poppies are sometimes used for symbolic reasons, such as in remembrance of soldiers who have died during wartime.
Poppy flowers have 4 to 6 petals. The petals may be almost any color, and some have markings. Before blooming, the petals are crumpled in the bud, and as blooming finishes, the petals often lie flat before falling away. A whorl of stamens is in the center of the flower.
The pollen of the oriental poppy, Papaver orientale, is dark blue. The pollen of the field poppy or corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) is dark blue to grey. Bees use poppies as a pollen source.
Poppies belong to genera of Papaveraceae, which includes:

• Papaver – corn poppy, Opium poppy, Oriental poppy, Iceland poppy, and about 120 other species
• Eschscholzia – California poppy and relatives
• Meconopsis – Welsh poppy, Nepal poppy, and relatives
• Stylophorum – Celandine poppy or wood poppy
• Argemone – Prickly poppy
• Romneya – Matilija poppy and relatives
• Canbya – Pygmy poppy
• Stylomecon – Wind poppy
• Arctomecon – Desert bearpaw poppy
• Hunnemannia – Tulip poppy
• Dendromecon – Tree poppy

Uses

 Most species of poppies are attractive and are cultivated as ornamental plants. A few species have other uses, principally as sources of drugs and foods. The opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) is so widely used, for both drugs and food, that its worldwide production is monitored by international agencies. It yields opium and opiates, poppy seeds for use in cooking and baking, and poppyseed oil for culinary and other uses, and is also cultivated as an ornamental plant.

Medical uses

 Ancient Egyptians doctors would have their patients eat seeds from a poppy to relieve pain. Modern science tells us why this worked: poppy seeds contain both morphine and codeine, excellent pain-relieving drugs that are still used today.

 

Opium Poppy

white poppy seeds used for culinary purposes