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Reference · Crops

Poppy family

The opium poppy (lat. Papaver somniferum) is a significant annual agricultural crop belonging to the Papaveraceae family. Renowned historically for both its pharmaceutical potential and its utility as an oilseed crop, it remains a plant of commercial interest globally, cultivated for its seeds and secondary metabolites.

Main sections

Corydalis61 Poppy8 Corydalis8 Dicentra6 Bleeding heart3 Ceratocapnos3 Dicranostigma3 Fumaria3 Adlumia2 Argemone2 Dactylicapnos2 Dendromecon2 Eschscholzia2 Bocconia1 California poppy1 Capnoides1 Celandine1 Dactylicapnos1 Eomecon1
160 sections

What the section contains

Poppy Papaver L. 8 items Adlumia Adlumia 2 items Amur poppy Papaver amurense Argemone Argemone 2 items Argemone albiflora Argemone albiflora Argemone munita Argemone munita Argemone platyceras Argemone platyceras Argemone pleiacantha Argemone pleiacantha Argemone polyanthemos Argemone polyanthemos Argemone rosea Argemone rosea Argemone squarrosa Argemone squarrosa Argemone subfusiformis Argemone subfusiformis Asian celandine Chelidonium asiaticum Atlantic poppy Papaver atlanticum Berberian fumitory Fumaria berberica Bleeding heart Dicentra 3 items Bloodroot Sanguinaria Bocconia Bocconia 1 item Bracteated fumitory Fumaria bracteosa Brick-red poppy Papaver lateritium Bristly poppy Papaver horridulum California poppy Eschscholzia Cham. 1 item Capnoides Capnoides 1 item Caucasian poppy Papaver caucasicum Caucasian poppy Papaver commutatum Celandine Chelidonium L. 1 item Ceratocapnos Ceratocapnos 3 items Common fumitory Fumaria agraria Common ramping-fumitory Fumaria muralis Corydalis Corydalis DC. 8 items Corydalis Corydalis 61 item Dactylicapnos Dactylicapnos Wall. 1 item Dactylicapnos Dactylicapnos 2 items Decaisne's poppy Papaver decaisnei Dendromecon Dendromecon 2 items Dicentra Dicentra Bernh. 6 items Dicranostigma Dicranostigma 3 items Eomecon Eomecon 1 item Eschscholzia Eschscholzia 2 items Fan-shaped fumitory Fumaria flabellata Fumaria Fumaria 3 items Fumaria asepala Fumaria asepala Fumaria ballii Fumaria ballii Fumaria barnolae Fumaria barnolae Fumaria calcarata Fumaria calcarata Fumaria faurei Fumaria faurei Fumaria gaillardotii Fumaria gaillardotii Fumaria judaica Fumaria judaica Fumaria kralikii Fumaria kralikii Fumaria macrocarpa Fumaria macrocarpa Fumaria macrosepala Fumaria macrosepala Fumaria media Fumaria media Fumaria melillaica Fumaria melillaica Fumaria mirabilis Fumaria mirabilis Fumaria ouezzanensis Fumaria ouezzanensis Fumaria parviflora Fumaria parviflora Fumaria petteri Fumaria petteri Fumaria reuteri Fumaria reuteri Fumaria rifana Fumaria rifana Fumaria rostellata Fumaria rostellata

Poppy family

Botanically, the plant features a glaucous, erect stem growing up to 1.5 meters tall with lobed leaves. The fruit is a dehiscent capsule containing numerous small, oil-rich seeds. The root system is a taproot, which allows the plant to access subsoil moisture, although the plant generally performs best in temperate climates with steady, moderate water availability during the early growth stages.

Optimal agricultural production requires deep, well-drained loamy soils rich in organic matter. Agrotechnical management involves careful seedbed preparation, as the seeds are tiny and require precise sowing depth. Weed control during the early stages is critical, as young poppy plants are poor competitors against aggressive weeds. Regular thinning ensures proper density to prevent competition for light and nutrients.

Commercially, the crop is primarily grown for its edible seeds, which are staples in many culinary traditions. The extracted oil is highly valued for culinary and industrial applications. While the pharmaceutical industry utilizes specific alkaloids derived from the plant, such cultivation is heavily regulated in most countries to ensure compliance with international drug control conventions.

The health of the crop is frequently threatened by several biological factors:

  • The poppy weevil, which bores into the seed capsules and destroys yield.
  • Downy mildew, characterized by yellowing leaves and white fungal growth.
  • Fusarium wilt, a soil-borne fungus that causes rapid wilting and plant death.
  • Various species of aphids that sap the vitality of the plants and transmit viruses.