Poppy is a flowering plant in the subfamily Papaveroideae of the family Papaveraceae. Poppies are herbaceous plants, often grown for their colorful flowers. One species of poppy, Papaver somniferum, is the source of the narcotic drug opium which contains powerful medicinal alkaloids such as morphine and has been used since ancient times as an analgesic and narcotic medicinal and recreational drug. It also produces edible seeds. All poppy species contain alkaloids, and some contain psychoactive alkaloids.
Poppy has been used as a symbol of sleep, peace, and death for centuries. Poppies were used as a sedative and painkiller in ancient Greece and Rome. In the Middle Ages, they were used to relieve the pain of childbirth and toothaches. In the 18th and 19th centuries, opium extracted from poppies was used to treat a variety of ailments, including pain, diarrhea, and cough. Today, poppy seeds are used in baking and cooking, and the poppy plant is used to make a variety of products, including paper, fabric, and oil.
