Opium (Papaver somniferum) Essay examples -- Botany

Opium (Papaver somniferum) The opium poppy has been used as a medicinal plant for centuries all over the world. The opium poppy plant belongs to the Papaveraceae family. The scientific name of the opium poppy is Papaver somniferum L., and it is native to Turkey. The plant has lobed leaves, milky sap and four to six petaled flowers with several stamens surrounding the ovary. The two sepals drop off when the petals unfold. The ovary then develops into a short, many seeded capsule that opens in dry weather. The small seeds of the opium poppy plant are dispersed by wind. The plant has five inch purple or white flowers on plants three to sixteen feet tall. It is and annual plant which needs to be planted only once for several years of harvest. There are many varieties of poppy plants grown other then the opium poppy, mostly for seasonings, oil, birdseed and attractive flowers. The poppy plants produce natural opiates. An opiate is defined as the drug derived from the opium poppy and are found in the milky substance extracted from the unripe seeds. The opiates are the best known narcotics. There are twenty different alkaloids derived from the opiates. Codeine and Morphine are the ones that are still in widespread use today. Codeine is a milder form of morphine and both are used today in the medical field for relieving pain. To obtain opium from Papaver somniferum is a very easy thing to do. It is a very common plant and is easy to purchase. The seeds can be planted and little care is needed to grow healthy plants. When the flowers turn to seed, the seed pods are slightly incised and a white milky liquid is dispersed. The liquid is allowed to seep out and dry for a few hours. The white liquid will turn to black when it is expo... ...for simple uses, the plant produces a drug that causes death and injury. The medicinal uses have been overlooked by people using opium for recreation, causes strict restrictions and laws to control it. The opium poppy has gained much attention all around the world. Reports Cited 1. Alcohol and Drugs Consumption: Psychotropic Drug: The varieties of psychotrophic drug: OPIUM, MORPHINE, HEROIN, and Related Synthetics: History (http://www.eb.com:180/cgi-bin/g?DocF=macro/5000/7/26.html&bold=on&sw=drug&keywords=psychotrophic%20drug&DBase=Articles&hits=10&pt=1&sort=relevance&config=config&firsthit=off). 2. Facts about opiates (http://www.arf.org/isd/pim/opiates.html) . 3. Opiates: High risk addiction (http://losangeles.dci.webpoint.com/health/osubopia.htm). 4. "Opium" Britannica Online (http://www-lj.eb.com:82/index.htcl/aDB/index_alpha/thisRow/151030/). Opium (Papaver somniferum) Essay examples -- Botany Opium (Papaver somniferum) The opium poppy has been used as a medicinal plant for centuries all over the world. The opium poppy plant belongs to the Papaveraceae family. The scientific name of the opium poppy is Papaver somniferum L., and it is native to Turkey. The plant has lobed leaves, milky sap and four to six petaled flowers with several stamens surrounding the ovary. The two sepals drop off when the petals unfold. The ovary then develops into a short, many seeded capsule that opens in dry weather. The small seeds of the opium poppy plant are dispersed by wind. The plant has five inch purple or white flowers on plants three to sixteen feet tall. It is and annual plant which needs to be planted only once for several years of harvest. There are many varieties of poppy plants grown other then the opium poppy, mostly for seasonings, oil, birdseed and attractive flowers. The poppy plants produce natural opiates. An opiate is defined as the drug derived from the opium poppy and are found in the milky substance extracted from the unripe seeds. The opiates are the best known narcotics. There are twenty different alkaloids derived from the opiates. Codeine and Morphine are the ones that are still in widespread use today. Codeine is a milder form of morphine and both are used today in the medical field for relieving pain. To obtain opium from Papaver somniferum is a very easy thing to do. It is a very common plant and is easy to purchase. The seeds can be planted and little care is needed to grow healthy plants. When the flowers turn to seed, the seed pods are slightly incised and a white milky liquid is dispersed. The liquid is allowed to seep out and dry for a few hours. The white liquid will turn to black when it is expo... ...for simple uses, the plant produces a drug that causes death and injury. The medicinal uses have been overlooked by people using opium for recreation, causes strict restrictions and laws to control it. The opium poppy has gained much attention all around the world. Reports Cited 1. Alcohol and Drugs Consumption: Psychotropic Drug: The varieties of psychotrophic drug: OPIUM, MORPHINE, HEROIN, and Related Synthetics: History (http://www.eb.com:180/cgi-bin/g?DocF=macro/5000/7/26.html&bold=on&sw=drug&keywords=psychotrophic%20drug&DBase=Articles&hits=10&pt=1&sort=relevance&config=config&firsthit=off). 2. Facts about opiates (http://www.arf.org/isd/pim/opiates.html) . 3. Opiates: High risk addiction (http://losangeles.dci.webpoint.com/health/osubopia.htm). 4. "Opium" Britannica Online (http://www-lj.eb.com:82/index.htcl/aDB/index_alpha/thisRow/151030/).