What is opium poppy?
Q: What is opium poppy?
A: Opium poppy, Papaver somniferum var. album, is a species of plant.
Q: What substances are made from opium?
A: A great number of opiates, such as morphine, heroin, and codeine, are made from opium.
Q: What is the meaning of the Latin name for opium poppy?
A: The Latin name for the opium poppy means "sleep-bringing poppy, white form," probably because some of these opiates make people feel sleepy.
Q: Is opium poppy the only species of Papaveraceae grown as an agricultural crop?
A: Yes, opium poppy is the only species of Papaveraceae to be grown as an agricultural crop.
Q: Are Papaver rhoeas and Papaver argemone agricultural crops?
A: No, Papaver rhoeas and Papaver argemone are important agricultural weeds.
Q: Are Papaver rhoeas and Papaver argemone sometimes mistaken for opium poppy?
A: Yes, Papaver rhoeas and Papaver argemone may be wrongly thought of as the crop.
Q: Is the opium poppy only used for its substances and as an agricultural crop?
A: No, the plant itself is also used as a decoration. Known as the "common garden poppy," it is widely grown as an ornamental flower in Europe, North America, South America, and Asia.
