Papaver somniferum

9.6

A poppy plant grown for edible seeds and for opium used to make medicines

noun
/ˈpæpəvər sɒmnɪˌfɪrəm/

Specialized

: pavón somniferum

Morphine is derived from the milky latex of Papaver somniferum pods.

Examples

Gardeners sometimes grow Papaver somniferum for its attractive flowers and edible seeds.
Farmers in Turkey cultivate Papaver somniferum for opium production.
The cultivation of Papaver somniferum has a long history in Afghanistan.
The Papaver somniferum plant is often grown for its seeds.
Gardeners sometimes grow Papaver somniferum for its attractive flowers and edible seeds.
The cultivation of Papaver somniferum has a long history in Afghanistan.
Farmers in Turkey cultivate Papaver somniferum for opium production.

Synonyms

opium poppy

vsPapaver somniferum

Specialized

1 6.1

A plant that has grey leaves and white or red flowers and is grown for opium

is broader including seed production and being the primary commercial crop

Surface Forms

Papaver somniferum singular

Papaver somniferums plural

Morphology

Papaver + somniferum

This is a Latin binomial rather than a normal English collocation: 'Papaver' = the poppy genus is transparent, but 'somniferum' is not a common English word (etymologically ‘sleep‑bringing’) and is absent from learner dictionaries. A B1 learner who somehow knew the Latin parts might infer a sleep‑inducing poppy, but deriving the specific meaning 'primary source of opium and poppy seeds' requires specialist botanical/pharmacological knowledge, so the link is only partial.

Etymology

Papaver somniferum comes from Latin: Papaver means 'poppy' and somniferum means 'sleep-bringing'. People named the plant for its milky sap called 'opium' that can make people sleepy, so the name points to its effects and use.