Opium poppy

Name, Appearance and Habitat

The genus, Papaver, is the Greek noun for the poppy, and its species name, somniferum, is from the Latin word meaning " sleep inducing." The origin and development of the opium poppy are under dispute. The wild poppy (Papaver setigerum) which contains small amounts of opium grows indigenously throughout the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. It mutated naturally to become the opium poppy.

The poppy has a large botanical family (Papaveraceae) with 28 general and over 250 individual species. Many varieties are cultivated: the bush and tree poppies, the Welsh poppy, the blue and Syrian tulip poppies, the alpine poppy, the sub-arctic Iceland poppy, and the Californian poppy. Even the opium poppy can be found in well-kept gardens, but this is illegal in most countries. Of all the species of poppies, only Papaver somniferum and Papaver bracteatum produce opium, but the latter is not used at present as a commercial drug source.

Native to Turkey and growing mostly in the temperate and sub-tropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere, the plant has a delicate beauty with a simple, often scarlet, white or purple blossom. When mature, it reaches between 90 and 150 centimeters in height with lobed, oblong leaves on the main stem between 10 and 40 centimeters long. Its four to six purple or white flowers are short-lived (2-4 days) with several stamens surrounding the ovary, a small, round pod the size of a large pea which grows rapidly to become the size of a small hen's egg. This pod is bluish green with a slightly waxy appearance, producing over 1000 seeds and opening in dry weather.

Papaver somniferum is an annual with a growth cycle of approximately 120 days. It requires a rich, well-cultivated soil and is likely to flourish in recently dug or plowed ground. Excessive rain is likely to reduce the opium-producing capabilities and direct sunlight, at least twelve hours daily, is especially important for growth. The poppy does not require irrigation, unless it is in danger of drying out, demands no expensive fertilizers, has few pests or ailments, and requires no insecticides or fungicides. Its seeds are sown naturally by the wind.

The opium poppy has two main products: poppy seeds and opium. The word " opium" is misleading, however, because it implies a single chemical compound while the substance is actually an elaborate mixture of sugars, proteins, ammonia, latex, gums, plant wax, fats, sulfuric and lactic acids, water, meconic acid and a wide range of alkaloids. Over fifty alkaloids have been identified in opium, the most important being morphine, from which heroin can be made, as well as noscapine, papaverine, codeine and thebaine. In its raw state, opium is an opaque, milky sap found throughout the plant, with its active ingredients only in the pod.

Legends and Folklore

The history of the opium poppy is replete with legends, folklore and spiritual connections. Ancient Greeks thought that poppies were a sign of fertility and, because the seeds were thought to bring health and strength, Greek athletes were given mixtures of poppy seeds, honey, and wine. Representations of the twin brothers Hypnos and Thanatos (Sleep and Death) showed them crowned with poppies or carrying poppies in their hands, demonstrating the Greek awareness that sleep induced by opium could lead to death. The Greeks also connected it to Humnus, the dog of rest and oblivion.

When opium was introduced into England by the Romans, Roman mythology linked it to Somnus, the dog of sleep. Christianity, however, dave its symbolism a new twist, carving images of the plant into the benches of some medieval church pews to represent the belief that we rest in anticipation of the Last Day.

Vocabulary:

habitat- место обитания

poppy- мак

Papaver somniferum- мак снотворный

induce- вызывать, индуцировать

to be under dispute- быть спорным

indigenous- дикорастущий

to mutate- мутировать

Welsh poppy- Уэльский мак

Syrian tulip- сирийский тюльпан

alpine- альпийский

temperate- умеренный

delicate beuty- тонкая, изящная красота

blossom- цветок

mature- созреть

lobed- дольчатый, разделенный на лопасти

oblong- продолговатый

stamen- тычинка

ovary- завязь

pod- коробочка

annual- однолетник

flourish- процветать

dug- вскопанный

plowed- вспаханный

excessive- избыточный

to be likely to- вероятнее всего

reduce- снижать, уменьшать

demand- требовать

pest- вредитель, паразит

ailment- болезнь

fungicides- противогрибковое средство

opium- сообщество паразитических растений

misleading- неточный

raw state- сырое состояние

sap- сок

to be replete with- изобиловать

fertility- оплодотворение

representation- изображение

olivion- забвение

carve- высекать, вырезать, изображать

pew- скамья со спинкой

aticipation- ожидание

Упражнение 1. Найдите и прочитайте предложения, содержащие информацию о:

the place of growth; varieties of the plant; conditions of drowing; the plant appearance; the growth cycles; the poppy’s products; the history of the opium poppy uses by Yreeks, Romans and Christians.

Упражнение 2. Переведите следующие слова и словосочетания:

poppy; opium poppy; papaver somniferum; wild poppy; to contain; to grow indigenously; many varieties; to be cultivated; illegal; commercial drug source; a delicate beauty; blossom; lobed, oblong leaves; a stem; a stamen; an ovary; a pod; waxy appearance; annual; to require; to reduce; to flourish; drying out; to demand; pest ailment; latex; ammonia; sulfuric acid; to identify; a raw state; opaque; sap; fertility; honey; representation; the Yod of rest and oblivion; anticipation.

Упражнение 3. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. What does the word poppy mean in Latin?

2. Where does the wild poppy grow?

3. What varieties of the plant are cultivated?

4. What species of poppies produce opium?

5. Where does the plant grow mostly?

6. What is poppy’s appearence?

7. What is a growth cycle of papaver somniferum?

8. What are the most fovourable conditions for its growth?

9. What conditions of growth are unfavourable?

10. What are main products of poppy?

Упражнение 4. Перескажите текст, используя следующие выражения:

I don’t believe that...

I didn’t think that...

I have got to know that...

It is important to remember that...

It is wise to know that...