Poppy Californian
|
Botanical Name |
Papaver eschscholzia |
|
Family |
Papaveraceae |
|
Description |
Perennial Flower: orange |
|
Parts Used |
Aerial parts |
|
Cultivation |
Full sun |
|
Harvesting |
Aerial parts – June –September |
|
Preserving |
Dry in shade |
|
Actions |
Anodyne, antispasmodic, hypnotic, sedative |
|
Constituents |
Alkaloids, glycosides |
|
Digestive |
Gall bladder, colic |
Poppy – opium
|
Botanical Name |
Papaver somniferum |
|
Family |
Papaveraceae |
|
Other Names |
Devil’s finch, mawseed, oriental poppy, peace release, papaver, paynim poppy, white poppy |
|
Habitat |
Waste ground |
|
Description |
Annual sturdy, hairless up to 1.2m/4ft. Blue/green foliage milky sap Stems: unbranched Leaves oval, toothed Flower: white or reddish with purple base and streaks up to 10cm June-August. Fruit: black seeds |
|
Native to |
SE Europe, Asia |
|
Parts Used |
Capsules, latex, seeds |
|
Actions |
Analgesic, anti-diarrhoeal, antispasmodic, antitussive, diaphoretic, narcotic |
|
Constituents |
30 alkaloids including morphine, codeine, thebaine, narceine, narcotine, papaverine, salutaridine, oripavine, sanguinarine Meconic acid Mucilage Seeds: fixed oil |
|
Other Notes |
In mythology it is associated with sleep and dreams The Greek word opion means poppy juice Somniferum is from the Latin “somnus” meaning in sleep and “fero” I bring as in “In sleep I bring illusions” In Greek mythology Hypnos the god of sleep wears a garland of poppies Planet: Moon Element: Water |
|
Caution |
Illegal to cultivate and use Poisonous |
Poppy Red
|
Botanical Name |
Papaver rhoeas |
|
Family |
Papaveraceae |
|
Other Names |
Blind buff, blind eyes, canker, canker rose, cockrose, corn poppy, corn rose, field poppy, flores rhoeados, headache red, head waak, redweed, soldiers, wild corn rose |
|
Habitat |
Arable fields, roadsides |
|
Description |
Hairy annual. 60-90cm/2-3ft. Leaves: divided into paired segments, toothed and end in point Flowers solitary, deep scarlet, 4 petals floppy up to 10cm/4in across, numerous stamens June – October Fruit seed pods are hairless and flat topped like an inverted cone |
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Native to |
World |
|
Parts used |
Petals |
|
Cultivation |
Well-drained soil, full sun. |
|
Harvesting |
Seeds head September when they turn grey/brown –shake into paper bag. Flowers: July-august |
|
Actions |
Anodyne, expectorant, mild sedative |
|
Constituents |
Tannins, mucilage Alkaloids: the papaverrubines, rhoeadine, isorhoeadinem stylopine, protopine Meconic acid Mecocyanin |
|
Traditional uses |
Headaches |
|
Respiratory |
Bronchitis, coughs |
|
Culinary Uses |
Seeds: breads, cakes |
|
Other Notes |
Once places in roofs to ward of lightening Sacred to Ceres the roman goddess of love and corn It is used as a commemorative flowers for soldiers In some places it is considered unlucky to bring into a house It is used in fertility festivals on Lamas eve and in love spells Planet: Moon Element: Water |