Poppy
seed
Description
The dried poppy seed is from an erect annual herb of Papaver
somniferum, having 30-150 cm long with 0.5-1.5 cm thick stem. Stem
is smooth and hairless with thick waxy coating. Leaves are
numerous, alternate, spreading horizontally about 15-25 cm long.
Flowers are few, solitary, on a 10-15 cm long stalk. Fruit is
capsule like with waxy coating. It has numerous seeds that are,
very small, white grey with an oily endosperm. The seed is the
spice.
Origin and Distribution
The Poppy is believed to have originated in the Western
Mediterranean region of Europe and is cultivated in India, Russia,
Egypt, Poland, Germany ,Yugoslavia, the Netherlands, Argentina,
Spain, Bulgaria, China, Japan, Hungary, and Portugal for their
legal pharmaceutical use. Poppy is also cultivated illegally for
use in narcotics by countries like Burma, Thailand and Laos (Golden
Triangle) and Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran (Golden
Crescent).
A license has to be obtained to grow the crop in India as the latex
of the mature fruit could be collected for the production of the
narcotic substance opium, Poppy is grown in temperate and
sub-tropical region. it requires well drained, highly fertile,
light black cotton soil having good percentage of fine
sand.
Uses
Poppy seed also known as Khas Khas is a source of fatty oil and
used as food. It is widely used for culinary purposes and is used
in making breads, cakes, cookies, pastries, curries, sweets and
confectionary. As its seeds are demulcent having the property to
relieve pain in inflamed or irritated mucous membranesit is used
against constipation. It is also used as a sedative against
irritant coughing and sleeplessness
