Okay, I’m confused, a little help please?

[hunter]

How can one plant, P. Somniferum have so many different varieties of flowers?

What is the original Somniferum's flower color? Red?

What are the different strains used around the world for opium production, specifically by the colors of their flowers?

Which plants used for the production and harvesting of opium have....



Red flowers?

Purple flowers?

Pink flowers?

White flowers?

White/Purple flowers?



The specific name of the strain would help me a LOT. I'm looking for
the most popular ones, used for cultivation and production for each
color of flower...and the original location would help too, but that's
not as important as me relating the colors of these flowers to the
strain name.



I'm confused cause I've seen Persian Whites, and Indian Whites. I've seen red Tazzies, and Purple/White Tazzies....



HELP!!

Thanks!

[MrJim]

Okay Buddy - There is alot of information to take in - I don't know if I can explain everything to you but I will see if I can make things a little more clear for you.


First off - Original poppy - There would be no such thing anymore. Plants are the only organism that people have been genetically engeneering for thousands of years - it just wasn't called genetic engineering it was called cross-breeding. Poppies have been cultivated in different parts of the world and in fact their cultivation predates the written word so trying to pinpoint it's origins is one of those "most likely scenarios", not a true answer. Most likely place of origin - The mediterranean area.


Why are there so many different names of poppies? Why are there so many colors?


If one was to take afew strains of poppy and then throw the seeds out into a patch, the first year the poppies would all come up as the strains that were thrown in - The second year however cross pollinating would have occured - Those Tazzie reds could have cross bred with those China whites - White and pink clouds would cross with Danish flags - Dominant genetic colors would normally win out unless both who cross pollinated had recessive heredity (excuse me I am hardly an expert in genetics) and then the other color would win out. Another year and the cross-pollinated would cross polinate breeding entirely new strains. Time passed - 3 years. Poppies have been cultivated intentionally (weeding out the little and the weak, breeding the strong) since around 5000 BC.


People who sell seeds can make more money if they slap a name on the seeds which is different - they then have a unique market niche.


Different colors are good in your garden because it makes it more beautiful and less scrutinized.


One type of Deep purple from one guy (and in theory all who have his strain) is called Turkish Commercial. Because they are grown commercially in Turkey for opium production. Another deep purple (so purple it appears black) is called the indian black flower.


Gigantheums mostly have dark red flowers. But I bet a breeder out there somewhere is selling them with white flowers.


China White seeds and Persian White seeds look remarkably similar with white flowers. Nine times out of ten flowers will be named from country of origin.


Tazzies (Tasmania)are light pink to white flowers. They are very potent.


Afghan special is a breed where the flowers are light pink with a white center, or all white.


This list could keep going and going, but I think you probably get the point now - there are so many different strains because it has been cultivated so long. Just like pot - any look at a seed banks' variety will leave you thinking - How is there that many kinds of pot? Cross-breeding - pure and simple.


Peace


JimboEdited by: MrJim

[hunter]

Thanks man, I appreciate it.



I guess I should just get some Red Chinese, Some Tazzies, and Persian whites then!

[paradoks]

Just a little input from me here,

Swim is currently growing Persian whites, and is traveling to Tasmania for the X-mas harvest as swim lives in a city very close to Tasmania.
Swim has read that 50% of the worlds medical opiates are manufactured from Tasmanian papivars, so if you can get genuine Tasmanians thats definately the way swim would go.
Swim has been informed by reliable sources that persians produce a lovely final product, but the consensus is that Tasmanians are as good as they get.
Be aware though that swim has found that seeds sold for growing were rather expensive for small amounts.
Where as swim purchased completely legal persian white seeds in an indian herb/spice store for a fraction of the cost and approximately ten times the quantity (used for thickening soups and other indian cooking dishes).
And yes they definately grow, swims are growing famously ATM. In comming months swim will have information and images from his Tasmania expedition, I'm confident he'll be more then happy to share them with everyone.

Paradoks

[nera]

From what I understand purple would be the "original" color, because it is the dominate color. if you breed any poppy, and asexually reproduce it will default to purple, persian whites, tazzie reds, all of them. That is what I understand. But as for explanations for a scattered question Jim you souldn't have stated it any better. Hunter, if you can afford it Tazzies produce the "best" flower and Gigantums produces the largest.

--Nera