Papaver somniferus

Papaver somniferum

''Papaver somniferum'', commonly known as the opium poppy or breadseed poppy, is a species of flowering plant in the family Papaveraceae. It is the species of plant from which both opium and poppy seeds are derived and is also a valuable ornamental plant, grown in gardens.
Papaver somniferum This is a macro shot of the center of an Opium Poppy in my flower garden. Geotagged,Opium Poppy,Papaver somniferum,United States

Appearance

''Papaver somniferum'' is an annual herb growing to about 100 c tall. The plant is strongly glaucous, giving a greyish-green appearance, and the stem and leaves bear a sparse distribution of coarse hairs. The large leaves are lobed, the upper stem leaves clasping the stem, the lowest leaves with a short petiole.  The flowers are up to 30–100 mm diameter, normally with four white, mauve or red petals, sometimes with dark markings at the base. The fruit is a hairless, rounded capsule topped with 12–18 radiating stigmatic rays, or fluted cap.
Papaver somniferum fruit Gardens former gothic abbey Villers La Ville, July 2014. Belgium,Geotagged,Papaver somniferum,Papaver somniferus,Summer

Distribution

The native range of opium poppy is probably the Eastern Mediterranean, but extensive cultivation and introduction of the species throughout Europe since ancient times have obscured its origin. It has escaped from cultivation, or has been introduced and become naturalized extensively in all regions of the British Isles, particularly in the south and east and in almost all other countries of the world with suitable, temperate climates.

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