|
» » » »
|
Papaver spp. - Poppy |
 |
| There are no products to list in this category. |
|
 |
Shaman Australis Ethnobotanicals (Papaver somniferum - Opium Poppy -- Seeds for sale)
Papaver
spp.
Poppies
Important legal information
for all customers:
NO EXPORT !!
1) The importation of Papaver somniferum seeds into Australia is prohibited
under the Customs Act 1901, Regulations, Schedule 4 (Drugs). The seeds
offered by Shaman Australis Botanicals are collected from escaped weed plants
or sourced from "little Granny next door" type cottage gardens within
Australia. We do not grow any poppies ourselves and we do not recommend our
seeds to be used for growing purposes, as this may contravene council, state
and federal legislation.
2) The export of Papaver somniferum seeds does not appear to be prohibited under
the Customs Act, but we have been made aware of a retailer being raided for doing
just that. These seeds are readily available overseas, so we prefer to keep our
stock for our local customers and will not ship Papaver somniferum seeds overseas.
3) The export of Papaver bracteatum plant parts (including seeds) is prohibited
under Schedule 8 (export regulations) of the Customs Act.
4) The possession or manufacture of poppy straw, extracts, or resins derived from
any part of Papaver somniferum (except the seeds) is prohibited under various
federal and state legislations.
5) The cultivation of Papaver somniferum and Papaver bracteatum is a illegal under
federal, state and local legislation.
HEALTH WARNING: Please see www.poppyseedtea.com
for more information on the dangers of consuming poppy seed tea.
Botanical information
Papaver somniferum: The Opium Poppy is an annual plant, that grows
to a height of 1.5m with a spread of 1m. The stem is bluish grey and generally
hairy. The leaves are 12cm long, oval to oblong and deeply lobed, with serrate
margins. The flowers are 4 petalled combinations of white, pink, red, black and
purple, generally with dark blotches at the base of the petal. The fruit are hemispherical
capsules containing numerous small kidney shaped seeds.
Papaver somniferum is a native of the Middle East and is adaptable to most soils
and positions, but prefers exposed soil in a sunny location. While it will grow
without much water, such plants will be much smaller than those with good water
and fertiliser during the early growth period. Papaver somniferum is a weed of
disturbed places and is often found growing on roadsides, cultivated fields and
on erosion scars.
Propagation is by seed sown directly where it is to grow. Poppies do not like
to be transplanted. The seed requires light to germinate and is best sprinkled
on top of the soil rather than buried. The young seedlings are prone to drying
out for the first few days until a good root system is established.
All varieties and forms of the same species will cross pollinate. In commercial
applications at least 500m between poppy strains is recommended to prevent cross
pollination.
There are many forms and strains of opium poppy which were bred for improvement
of traits such as seed yield, alkaloid profile, or ornamental value, but in botanical
terms there are only a few defined varieties:
Papaver somniferum var album is the white seeded variety grown in India
and Iran (Persia). It is easily recognised by the fact that the capsules do not
develop apertures for the seeds to escape. The flowers are usually pure white
or at least predominantly white, but red varieties are also known.
Papaver somniferum var nigrum has dark seeds and the pods have apertures
at the top of the pod where the dry seed escapes. The flowers are usually violet.
It is commonly grown in Europe almost exclusively for it's seeds.
Papaver somniferum var glabrum also has apertures at the top of the pod
where the dry seed escapes and the seed itself can be either dark or violet and
any combination. The flowers range from white to purple. It is commonly grown
in Turkey.
Papaver somniferum var steigerum is a wild form found only in southern
Europe. The whole plant is covered in bristles and the leaves are sharply pointed.
This variety is unlikely to be seen in cultivation.
Traditional uses
Papaver somniferum: Opium poppy is a strong analgesic and narcotic and
has been used for this purpose all over the world. The opium is traditionally
harvested by making vertical cuts into the ripening pod and collecting the resin
that exudes. This raw opium is sometimes consumed as is, but in recent times is
more commonly refined by various methods to yield a more potent and attractive
product. Opium is generally smoked, but can also be ingested as a resin ball or
tincture, or administered rectally. Opium or the refined morphine were once popular
and effective ingredients in many household remedies. An alcoholic tincture of
opium or poppy is called laudanum. The ancient Greeks used a concoction made by
soaking poppy straw in wine to produce poppy wine. The method of making
poppy tea from poppy pods has in recent times become popular in countries
where poppy pods are legal. Similarly poppy seeds soaked in water are also popularly
used to make a sedating drink called poppyseed tea. (NOTE: All administration
methods of non-standardised poppy products can be fatal!!!) The seeds of all Papaver
somniferum varieties are used as food and oil crops.
Papaver somniferum is widely grown for producing the raw materials for producing
refined opiates such as morphine. Australia is the largest producer of legal opiates
in the world, but some cultivation is also done in Turkey, India, Pakistan, fomer
USSR, Yugoslavia and some others. India is the only country that still produces
legal raw opium for use in medicine as opium rather than refined opiates. Most
poppy cultivation however is illicit or at least the raw material is used in the
illicit opiate trade. Major production areas are in South East Asia (Myanmar),
Afghanistan and South America. Illicit opium is the basis for heroin production.
Pharmacology
Papaver somniferum: Poppy straw usually consists only of the aerial parts
of the poppy plant. All parts of the plant have different alkaloid profiles and
the root is generally regarded as undesirable.Alkaloid extractions from poppy
straw produce a mixture of over 50 alkaloids, but most of these are only present
in trace amounts. The 5 major constituents are the morphinane alkaloids morphine
(3-25%), codeine (0.5-4%) and thebaine (0.4%) as well as the benzylisoquinoline
alkaloid papaverine (0.5-1%), and the pthaleideisoquinoline alkaloid narcotine
(1-12%). Opium produced by traditional methods has the major constituents in somewhat
different ratios: morphine (8-14%), codeine 2.5-3.5%, narcotine (1-7.5%), papaverine
0.5-1%) and thebaine (0.1-2%). Most of the alkaloids are present as the meconic
acid salts in the plant and unprocessed opium.
Powdered Opium is still used in some countries, especially India and is usually
adjusted to 10% morphine content. The more potent form 'Opium Concentrate' is
standardised to about 50% morphine.
|
|
|
|
Morphine
|
Codeine
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thebaine
|
Protopine
|
|
|
|
|
|
Narcotine
|
Papaverine
|
|
Click on Thumbnails to see full size/high resolution picture! (in new window)
|
|
|
|
|
Papaver somniferum 'Amethyst'
|
Papaver somniferum 'Giant Pink' (single)
|
Papaver somniferum var album 'Persian
White'
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Papaver somniferum 'Giant Pink' (double)
|
Papaver somniferum var laciniatum
'White Feathers'
|
Papaver somniferum var laciniatum
'Fluffy Ruffles'
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Webstore |
|
|
Currencies |
|
|
Search (Products Only) |
|
|
