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The Poppy

Keats had lifted up his hymeneal curls from out The poppy - seeded wine, With ambrosial mouth had kissed my forehead, Clasped the hand of noble love in mine....Oscar Wilde, 1890

Only a handful of common garden flowers, all once so valued in medicine are to be found in drugstores today. Among them the poppy is one of the most important. They are few people who get through life without being grateful at one time or another for the freedom from pain that the medicine made from the poppy can bring. Morphine and Codeine are two familiar drugs made from the poppy.

It may have been as early as Neolithic times that man became aware of the potent qualities latent in the poppy seed pod of the fragile poppy flower. The poppy has been found in Egyptian tombs dating back 3,000 years. There is even a prescription for poppy to be given to children to stop their crying. It was known to the Assyrians and the mythology of Greece. Ancient Greeks thought that poppies were a sign of fertility. Poppy seeds were thought to bring health and strength so Greek athletes were given mixtures of poppy seeds, honey, and wine.

Demeter,so the legend goes, created the poppy for the purpose of getting some sleep after the loss of her daughter Persephone. The twin brothers Hypnos and Thanatos (sleep and Death) were represented as crowned with poppies or carrying the poppy in their hands. Obviously the Greeks were aware of the fact that a merciful sleep induced by opium could lead to death. Pliny gave in one breath a careful description of how to collect raw opium and in the next issued a warning that "taken in too large quantities is productive of sleep unto death even." Dioscorides said bluntly "being drunk too much...it kills."

The poppy was introduced into England by the Romans. Their mythology linked the papaver plant to Somnus, the god of sleep. The Greeks followed a similar line, connecting it to Hymnus, the god of rest and oblivion. Christianity gave its poppy symbolism a new twist. Carved into the benches of some medieval church pews it represented the belief that we rest in anticipation of the Last Day. Cynics used to add that it also represented the slumber 'begun when the priest did speak!' Perhaps this explains why carved poppies were not a feature of all medieval church pews.

The danger of opium unfortunately did not stop many quacks in old England from making up medicine and touting the advantages of opium poppy to make their fortunes. Elizabeth Kent in her Flora Domestica wrote "The use of these stimulants and narcotics, especially in little children ,without special care is to be highly deprecated and lays in their small frames the foundations of many disorders besides putting many to their last sleep." During the Industrial Revolution, Godfrey`s Cordial was very popular. Men thrown out of work by the chaotic conditions of the infant industries found opium cheaper than food. A few coppers would buy the "cordial" that kept hungry children quiet. And Godfrey`s Cordial was still popular in 1910. It took the pure food and drug laws of a later day to remove this dangerous narcotic from patent medicines. In the sixteen hundreds a large dollop of opium could be added to anything to bring miraculous relief to the sick and suffering. The quacks were out for easy money and plenty of it.They took full advantage of opium poppy to make their fortunes. By the beginning of the nineteenth century the tincture of opium called laudanum was as casually bought and used as aspirin is today. A large number of poets and writers have been opium addicts.

The opium poppy was also the main reason for England's war with China in 1839. The East India Company was faced with a problem. For centuries the opium poppy had been cultivated in India, grown and processed in Bengal. But the East India Company realized that the opium poppy's addictive properties would certainly diminish their unskilled labor force in India so why not sell it to the Chinese instead? However China did not want any "foreign mud." The East India Company kept its skirts clean by auctioning off its opium poppy crop to "country firms" that is, independent merchants who hired ships and ran the contraband into Canton, which was the only port in which "barbarian " ships were permitted. This illegal trade was supported by the hong merchants, who were a monopolistic group that had no support from the Chinese government in dealing with foreigners. They handed out vast sums to "fix" government officials from asking inconvenient questions and in so doing fastened upon their countrymen a most destructive habit. Their cooperation made the opium trade possible. They had a large network similar to the organized crime of some of our own great cities.While the opium trade grew by leaps and bounds, the difficulties of doing business in China increased. The highhanded and insulting regulations laid down by the hongs became intolerable and England, with Waterloo behind her felt war was the answer. England sent several men-of-war to escort some of the opium poppy ships putting in at Canton. The Chinese fired on these ships. The men-of-war returned the fire and the war was on. It lasted three years. At the peace table China ceded Hong Kong to England and opened up five treaty ports to trade with the west. Opium poppy was never mentioned in the peace treaty, so it was still contraband and the illegal traffic continued until 1908. It is an ugly story. Not all Englishmen approved of England's action in regards to China. Many people including Gladstone spoke out against it.

Oriental poppies contain opium.The corn poppy, however, does not contain opium. It is an emblem that commemorates those who died in wars.

The poppy was noticed during the Napoleonic Wars, as the mysterious flower that bloomed around the fresh graves of fallen soldiers.

A Canadian doctor, Lt.-Col. John McCrae, immortalized the poppy in his famous poem In Flanders Fields. He was so moved by the spectacle of the makeshift graves of British soldiers in N. France that shortly before that war claimed him as another victim he wrote:

"In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely, singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields".

After the war, an American, Moina Michael, began wearing a poppy in memory of the war dead.

Remember also when Dorothy fell asleep in a field of flowers in the Wizard of Oz? That's right! They were poppies.

The "California poppy" is the california State flower.


Additional Articles on Poppies

Afghani Poppies

The war on terror against countries the United States deems the .Axis of Evil. has impacted the war on opium. In Afghanistan, a major grower of poppies and trafficker of opium, the war on opium has all but ceased due to military activity in the Middle Eastern country. Actions including spraying the poppy fields with chemicals to kill the flowers are proposed measures as the war on opium advances again. This chemical spraying is be conducted from the air and hope to stop the opium trade at its source.the poppy fields. The State Department has requested a $750 million for an Afghanistan counter-narcotics program that is expected to be granted. An estimated $152 million of that aid is expected to be spent on the aerial poppy eradication program.

California Poppies

California.s Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve is truly one of the Golden State.s most unique state parks. Located in the western Antelope Valley, the Poppy Reserve is dedicated to preserving the state.s famed species of poppy.the California poppy. The state flower of California grows unrestrained in 1745 acre state park. The park does not water the poppies or provide any other maintenance to ensure the field is totally natural. Sheep used to graze amidst the poppies, however in the early 1970s the park relocated the flock, since the California poppy prefers to grow in an undisturbed environment. The only proactive means the Poppy Reserve has taken is performing prescribed burns. This action is performed in hopes to prevent devastating wild fires.

Dried Poppies

On March 6, 1996, just before 7:00p.m., Jim Hogshire, the author of Opium for the Masses was inside his apartment when over a dozen members of the Seattle Police Department Narcotics Unit burst in with a search warrant authorizing a search of the apartment for...

Growing Opium Poppies

If you are interested in growing your own crop of opium poppies (Papaver somniferum), the seeds are available for sale online. The sites that sell these seeds make it a special point to say the seeds are not for growing. However, it can be assumed the majority of customers aren.t wishing to shell out that kind of money to buy poppy seeds for baking purposes.

Growing Opium Poppy

This article will describe the process for growing opium poppies. As most poppies are somniferum in variety, most regular poppy farms are actually growing opium poppies.

History of Poppies

The poppy plant, Paper somniferum.s history begins with the ancient Sumerians. The ancient Sumerians referred to the flower as .hul gil. or plant of joy. The Sumerians passed their knowledge of the plant to the Assyrians. The Assyrians gave their knowledge of poppy cultivation to the Babylonians who passed their understanding to the Egyptians. inThe opium trade flourished during the reign of the Egyptian Pharaohs. The Egyptian civilization promoted use of opium as a sleep aid. Even Egyptian Pharaohs were buried with opium artifacts.

How to grow Papaver Somniferum

Opium poppies are annuals, which means they grow, flower, and fruit in one season, then die. They generally like cool weather best. Barely cover the papaver somniferum seeds, and sow sparsely so you will have less to thin.

In Flanders Fields the Poppies Blow

John McCrae's "In Flanders Fields the poppies grow" remains to this day one of the most memorable war poems ever written. It is a lasting legacy of the terrible battle in the Ypres salient in the spring of 1915.

Lemon and Poppy Seed Cookies

Start making poppy seed cookies in a medium mixing bowl by beating butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar, poppy seed, and baking soda; beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally.

Opium and the Hmong

The earliest opium production can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty in the provinces of Yunnan, Szechwan and Kansu. During the Ch'ing Dynasty ( AD>1645-1911), poppy planting was reported to have spread to Kwichow and Fukein. By 1836, it was grown extensively in Kwangtung, Fukien, Eastern Chekiang and Yunnan.

Opium Effects

Numerous archeological finds point to the fact that opium has been the drug of choice for many civilizations, beginning with some of the oldest ones we are familiar with.

Opium Poppy Boom

The opium poppy, Papaver somniferum is grown in many countries around the world, especially Afghanistan. This simple flower produces one of the most potent drugs in the world. Usually, there are incredible efforts in place to combat the cultivation of Papaver somniferum and the United States takes an active role in the attempt to curb opium production.

Opium Poppy Cultivation

Smack, china white, horse, black tar . . . all slang names for heroin. We are often told what happens to our bodies and our minds if we use this drug made from opium poppy, but less commonly discussed is how the byproduct of a simple flower is converted into one of the most addictive drugs known to man. Also, not discussed much is how this drug makes its way from far-off growing opium poppy fields to the United States.

Opium Poppy

Opium has caused war, tragedy, suffering, addiction, and ruin wherever the drug touched on its voyage around the world. The plant responsible for this scourge is a simple flower. Papaver somniferum is more commonly known as the opium poppy and is actually a herb. The opium poppy is commonly found growing naturally in Southwestern Europe and Western Asia.

Oriental Poppies

There are Poppies and oriental poppy, old-fashioned ones and new varieties, and it would almost seem that they grow more dazzling and more gorgeous each year. Perhaps they are grown in a greater number of gardens and we see their brilliant colors everywhere during the early Summer months, or perhaps, we too have learned the secret of growing these delicate silken flowers which constantly command attention.

Papaver Somniferum

Poppies are beautifully colored vibrant flowers that are native to many parts of the world. By far, the most infamous type of poppy is the Papaver somniferum, more commonly known as the opium poppy.

Poppies

Poppies are lovely wildflowers that compliment many types of gardens. There are over 400 species of poppies, most of which are herbaceous plants, although a few are shrubs. These varieties of poppies grow in many different climates all over the world. The most infamous variety of poppy by far is the Papaver somniferous.

Poppy Pods

Poppy Pods are the seed pods of Papaver or Poppy plant. Used for centuries as a sleep aid and painkiller, poppies have always been a popular plant due to their aesthetic value and medicinal properties.

Poppy

The poppy is a lovely annual flower with vividly bright leaves. Types of poppies grow in various places all over the world, but one specific poppy produces this potent drug. The opium poppy, Papaver somniferum, grows naturally in an arid climate.specifically a 4,500 stretch of land from Turkey to Laos in Southern Asia. This mountainous terrain proves to be an excellent growing environment for the plant, with warm temperatures, high altitudes, and dry soil.

The Poppy

Only a handful of common garden flowers, all once so valued in medicine are to be found in drugstores today. Among them the poppy is one of the most important. They are few people who get through life without being grateful at one time or another for the freedom from pain that the medicine made from the poppy can bring. Morphine and Codeine are two familiar drugs made from the poppy.

The Red Poppy

The red poppy is most recognizable symbol for disabled veterans of many countries. This symbolic flower has been around for thousands of years, however the tradition of associating the poppy with disabled veterans stems from World War I. John McCrae.s famous poem .In Flanders Field. placed the simple flower in history.

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