Papaver somniferum aka Opium Poppy

Papaver somniferum, also known as the opium poppy or breadseed poppy, is a flowering plant in the Papaveraceae family. It is native to the eastern Mediterranean but is now naturalized in many parts of Europe and Asia. This plant is grown on a large scale for three primary purposes: to produce poppy seeds for human consumption, to produce opium for the pharmaceutical industry, and to produce other alkaloids for drugs such as hydrocodone and oxycodone. Breeding efforts are continually underway to target each of these businesses. Some varieties of P. somniferum do not produce a significant amount of opium, and it is legal to sell and buy the seeds, but it is illegal to grow them in North Carolina. Garden poppy species may or may not contain opium alkaloids, and pet and children should not sample the poppy seeds as they are poisonous. The perennial Oriental poppy, Papaver orientale, is known for its blousy blooms with colorful, paper-like petals and is a hallmark of the British summer. However, this species is invasive in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and Americas, and Oceania.