Papaver Papaver, L.

1. P. somniferum L. View in CoL , Sp. Pl. 508 (1753).

Erect glaucous annual 3O-1OO(-15O) cm. Leaves 7-12 cm, ovate-oblong, pinnately lobed; lower leaves with short petiole, upper amplexicaul. Petals 35-45 mm, suborbicular, white to purple, with dark spot at base. Filaments davate, white; anthers pale yellow. Capsule 5-9 x 3- 6 cm, glabrous. Margin of stigmatic disc deeply lobed; stigmatic rays 5—12(— 18), not reaching edge of lobes. Cultivated since ancient times in most of Europe except the extreme north for its medicinal and narcotic latex and its seeds, which are used as a condiment and a source of oil, and more recently grown in gardens for ornament; widespread as a naturalized alien or casual, and probably native in the W. & C. Mediterranean region. All except Al Be Da Fa Fe Is Rs (N, B, C) Sb.

The taxonomic treatment of this very variable species is difficult. Three subspecies may be distinguished as follows:

1 Lobes of stigmatic disc flat, with entire margin and obtuse apex

(c) subsp. songaricum 1 Lobes of stigmatic disc sulcate, with dentate margin and truncate apex

2 Setulose;leaveswithacutelobes;stigmaticrays 5 -8

(b) subsp. setigerum 2 Subglabrous; leaves coarsely dentate or shallowly and obtusely lobed; stigmatic rays 8—12(—18) (a) subsp. somniferum