Bionomial Name : Papaver somniferum
Common Name :"gasagasa" in Tamil, "khuskhus" in Hindi,
"gasagasalu" in Telugu, "gasagasa" in Kannada, and "posto dana" in Bengali
Family : Papaveraceae
Kingdom : Plantae


Varieties


Flower


Bud and leaves
Papaver somniferum has many sub-species or varieties and cultivars. Colors of the flower vary widely, as do other physical characteristics such as number and shape of petals, number of flowers and fruits, number of seeds, color of seeds, production of opium, etc.
Papaver somniferum Paeoniflorum Group (sometimes called Papaver paeoniflorum) is a sub-type of opium poppy whose flowers are highly double, and are grown in many colors. Papaver somniferum Laciniatum Group (sometimes called Papaver laciniatum) is a sub-type of opium poppy whose flowers are highly double and deeply lobed, to the point of looking like a ruffly pompon.
A few of the varieties, notably the Norman and Przemko varieties, have low morphine content (less than one percent), much higher concentrations of other alkaloids. Most varieties, however, including those most popular for ornamental use or seed production, have a higher morphine content, with the average content being 10%.[1][2]
[edit] Legality
Opium poppy cultivation in the United Kingdom does not need a licence, however, a license is required for those wishing to extract opium for medicinal products.[4]
Poppies as medicine


Capsule of Papaver somniferum showing latex (opium) exuding from incision
Australia, Turkey and India are the major producers of poppy for medicinal purposes and poppy-based drugs, such as morphine or codeine.[9] The USA has a policy of sourcing 80% of its narcotic raw materials from the traditional producers, India and Turkey.[10]
General Information of Poppy seeds
Poppy seeds are commonly used in both North and South Indian Cusine. They are called "gasagasa" in Tamil, "khuskhus" in Hindi, "gasagasalu" in Telugu, "gasagasa" in Kannada, and "posto dana" in Bengali. Poppy seeds can be dry roasted and ground to be used in wet curry (curry paste) or dry curry. They have a creamy and nut like flavor, and when used with ground coconut, the seeds provide a unique and flavour-rich curry base. The opium poppy is the source of two food ingredients: poppy seed and poppyseed oil. The seeds contain very low levels of opiates,[1] and the oil extracted from them contains even less. Both the oil and the seed residue also have commercial uses.

History
Use of the opium poppy predates written history. Images of opium poppies have been found in ancient Sumerian artifacts (ca. 4000 BC). The opium poppy was also known to the ancient Greeks, from whom it gained its modern name of opium. Remains have been discovered at sites such as Kalapodi and Kastanas.


A red opium poppy flower used for ornamental purposes
Once known as the "common garden poppy", live plants and seeds of the opium poppy are widely sold by seed companies and nurseries in most of the western world, including the United States
Many countries grow the plants; some of which rely heavily on the commercial production of the drug as a major source of income. As an additional source of profit, the same seeds are sold in the culinary trade shortly thereafter, making cultivation of the plant a significant source of income. This international trade in seeds of Papaver somniferum was addressed by a UN resolution "to fight the international trade in illicit opium poppy seeds" on July 28, 1998.
Opium was used for treating asthma, stomach illnesses, and bad eyesight. The Opium Wars between China and the British Empire took place in the late 1830s when the Chinese attempted to stop the sale of opium by Britain, in China.