opium poppy

opium poppy
a Eurasian poppy, Papaver somniferum, having white, pink, red, or purple flowers, cultivated as the source of opium, for its oily seeds, and as an ornamental.
[1860-65]

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Flowering plant (Papaver somniferum) of the family Papaveraceae, native to Turkey.

Opium, morphine, codeine, and heroin are all derived from the milky fluid found in its unripe seed capsule. A common garden annual in the U.S., the opium poppy bears blue-purple or white flowers 5 in. (13 cm) wide on plants about 3–16 ft (1–5 m) tall, with lobed or toothed silver-green foliage. It is also grown for its tiny nonnarcotic ripe seeds, which are kidney-shaped and grayish blue to dark blue; the seeds are used in bakery products and for seasoning, oil, and birdseed.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Opium poppy — Papaver somniferum Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae …   Wikipedia

  • opium poppy — n an annual Eurasian poppy (Papaver somniferum) cultivated since antiquity as the source of opium, for its edible oily seeds, or for its showy flowers …   Medical dictionary

  • opium poppy — n. an annual poppy (Papaver somniferum) with grayish green leaves and large, white or purple flowers, the source of opium …   English World dictionary

  • opium poppy — daržinė aguona statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Aguoninių šeimos aliejinis, dekoratyvinis, maistinis, prieskoninis, pašarinis, vaistinis nuodingas kultūrinis augalas (Papaver somniferum); turi narkotinių medžiagų. Sėklos – valgomos.… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • opium poppy — noun southwestern Asian herb with greyish leaves and white or reddish flowers; source of opium • Syn: ↑Papaver somniferum • Hypernyms: ↑poppy • Member Holonyms: ↑Papaver, ↑genus Papaver • Part Mero …   Useful english dictionary

  • opium poppy — noun Date: 1863 an annual Eurasian poppy (Papaver somniferum) cultivated since antiquity as the source of opium, for its edible oily seeds, or for its showy flowers …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • opium poppy — noun Papaver somniferum the species of plant from which opium and poppy seeds are extracted …   Wiktionary

  • opium poppy — type of poppy plant that is used to produce opium …   English contemporary dictionary

  • opium poppy — o′pium pop py n. pln a Eurasian poppy, Papaver somniferum, having white, pink, red, or purple flowers, cultivated as the source of opium and as an ornamental • Etymology: 1860–65 …   From formal English to slang

  • opium poppy — /ˈoʊpiəm pɒpi/ (say ohpeeuhm popee) noun a poppy, Papaver somniferum, with grey green leaves and white or red flowers which are a source of opium; mostly grown in south western Asia …  

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