Poppy (Family Papaveraceae)

Papaveraceae is a family of flowering plants. The family has been
universally recognized by taxonomists, also known as the "poppy

family", and is placed in Order Ranunculales. Most are herbaceous

plants, but a few are shrubs and small trees.

It is a cosmopolitan family, found worldwide, occurring in temperate
and subtropical climates, but is mainly associated with the Northern
Hemisphere.

The family is well loved for the striking flowers, with many species
grown as ornamental plants, including California poppy (Eschscholtzia
californica, the California state flower), the stunning blue Himalayan
poppies (Meconopsis), and several species of Papaver. The family

also contains the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), which is the

source of opium and opiates, as well as poppy seeds used in cooking

and baking, and poppyseed oil.

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