![]() Morphine is acetylated to produce diacetylmorphine-better known as heroin. The raw opium sap drips from fresh cuts into the pericarp of the capsules, and upon oxidation and solidification in the air it turns black. These potent alkaloids are obtained from the milky latex sap of the mature seed capsule of the opium poppy. Morphine is named after Morpheus the god of sleep, while the specific epithet of the opium poppy ( somniferum) means "to sleep" in Latin. Narcotic refers to the pain-relieving and sleep-inducing properties of these highly-addictive alkaloids, including morphine, codeine and thebaine. It is classified as a narcotic and is commonly found in certain members of the poppy family (Papaveraceae), such as the opium poppy ( Papaver somniferum). This class of alkaloid contains a double carbon ring with one nitrogen atom (N). T he milky latex sap of opium poppies contains isoquinoline alkaloids. nudicaule, P.Under Construction: More Information and Photos to Come As well as the common names, you can also look for these poppies using their botanical names. Suppliers of poppy seed include Lambley, Diggers and Australian Seed. So if you want to grow the big, blowsy peony poppies, add in a few simpler flowers like Flanders, Shirley, Iceland and ladybird poppies too. ![]() While the peony poppies are many petalled beauties, it’s worth remembering that simple, single flowers are much easier for bees and other beneficial insects to access to collect essential nectar and pollen. This way you’ll get bigger plants and more flowers. Water every few weeks with worm juice, compost tea or other organic liquid fertiliser. When seedlings are a decent size, thin to about 20cm between plants. Once you see tiny seedlings emerging, make sure the soil maintains some moisture, and pull out any competing weeds. A strong spray will just blast the seed away. Use a watering can or hose with a soft, fine spray. The trick now is to keep the soil moist for the up to two weeks it takes for germination. Don’t bury it by raking soil over the top, just leave it, as I said, the seed needs light to germinate. Then broadcast or sprinkle the very fine, almost dust-like seed over the soil. Water the soil before planting, if it’s not already moist. Choose a position in full sun with moist well-drained soil. They need the cool weather for germination and growth. Plant them in temperate regions any time from now until early spring. ![]() So don’t bury them, sprinkle them on the surface. ![]() Once you’ve grown them and let them drop seed, you may find yours self-sow too. This year there are some lovely poppies available to grow from a number of seed suppliers, but if you want to plant them then it’s important to know how. I sprinkle these around the garden, thus ensuring that the whole process will be repeated next year. At least one plant is left to set seed, and there are thousands. I then hoick it out leaving room to plant something else. It self sows around my garden, popping up in odd corners, often flowering where I don’t want it, but I try to leave it in place at least until it flowers. Every year I get enormous pleasure from my blood red peony poppy. ![]()
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