Opium Poppy Pods

The Opium Poppy Pod is the most important part of the opium poppy pant, from which the opium (lachryma papaveris) is extracted. The latex obtained from poppy pods contains morphine, codeine, papaverine, thebaine and noscapine. The morphine is converted into heroin, an opiate drug. To obtain the latex the immature seed pods is scratched in the result of which the latex leaks out and dries to a sticky yellowish residue that is later scraped off.

Opium Poppy Pods

Opium Poppy Plant, Flowers and Seed Pods

Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum) is the species of plant in the family Papaveraceae, from which opium and poppy seeds are extracted. Opium is the source of many opiates, including morphine, thebaine, codeine, papaverine, and noscapine.
In Pakistan people used to cultivate Opium poppy in large quantity till 1979, but after that the government imposed ban on the cultivation of opium poppy and in the result our farmers stopped its cultivation. I took these pictures on my way to Maini a beautiful village of district Swabi, where I found only a few plants cultivated by road side.

Opium Poppy Plant, Flowers and Seed Pods

Opium Poppy Plant

Opium Poppy Plant

Opium Poppy Flower Bud

Opium Poppy Flower Bud

Opium Poppy Flower

Opium Poppy Flower

Pink Poppy Flower

Pink Poppy Flower

White Poppy Flower

Purple Poppy Flower

Opium Poppy Seed Pods

Opium Poppy Seed Pod

Opium Poppy Seed Pod

Dried Poppy Pod

White Poppy Seeds

Opium