Papaver somniferum L. subsp. somniferum

Spice Capsule Detail Flower

Family: PAPAVERACEAE

Genus: Papaver

Catalan common name: Cascall. Herba dormidora.

Spanish common name: Adormidera.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera. Cabrera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Chinese-Japanese

Uses and properties: Aphrodisiac. Edible or foodstuffs.

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Path and road sides, fields.

Characteristics: The opium poppy has large rose or violet coloured flowers, which can span up to 10 cm in diameter. Leaves are very wide and light green in colour, the basal leaves hugging the stem. They can be found sporadically, without being rare to walkways, roadsides and abandoned fields, more or less in the same habitats as other Papaver species.