Andalucia Life Fauna and Flora, Flowers of Andalucia Southern Spain

June 2006, Opium Poppy - Papaver somniferum

With its white to purple flowers with a dark centre, often up to 9cm across, the opium poppy is easy to spot. You will often find it growing in company with the common poppies. Do not be tempted to extract the sap from the ripe pods. The opium poppy has many sub species, many of which have a low morphine content, totally useless to the drug trade, and this is supposed to be one of them. The seeds can be used in breads and pickles but until you are sure continue to buy them from Schwartz.