Morphology, Taxonomy, Anatomy, and Palynology of the Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) Cultivation in Northern Thailand

In this paper, we present the morphology, taxonomy, anatomy, and palynology of Papaver somniferum. A detailed morphological description and illustrations of the species are provided, along with information about the identification, distribution, cultivation areas, habitats, pollinators, spec-imens examined, growing periods, phenology, etymology, vernacular name, and uses. The species can be characterized as a glabrous and glaucous herb with unlobed or pinnately lobed leaves, and an amplexicaul base; variations in color and morphological characteristics of petals; and white filaments, occasionally purple with a white basal part, broadened at the apical part. Two rings of discontinuous and widely spaced collateral vascular bundles are recognized in the transverse section of the stems. The shape of epidermal cells on the adaxial surface is polygonal, while that on the abaxial surface is polygonal or irregular. The anticlinal cell walls of the epidermal cells on the adaxial surface are straight or slightly curved, while those on the abaxial surface are straight, slightly curved, sinuate, or strongly sinuate. The stomata are anomocytic and are confined to the lower epidermis. The stomatal density is 54-199/mm2 (with a mean of 89.29 + 24.97). The mesophyll is not distinctly differentiated into palisade and spongy regions. Laticifers are found in the phloem areas of the stems and leaves. The pollen grains can be spheroidal or prolate spheroidal in shape, sometimes oblate spheroidal [po-lar axis (P) diameter/equatorial axis (E) diameter ratio = 0.99-1.12 (with a mean of 1.03 + 0.03)]. The pollen aperture is tricolpate and the exine sculpturing is microechinate.

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This paper investigates the morphology, taxonomy, anatomy, and palynology of Papaver somniferum. It provides a detailed description and illustrations of the species, as well as information about identification, distribution, cultivation, habitats, pollinators, specimens, growing periods, phenology, etymology, vernacular name, and uses. The species is characterized by glabrous and glaucous herb with unlobed or pinnately lobed leaves, variations in petal color and morphology, and white filaments occasionally with purple and broadened apical part. The stem's transverse section shows two rings of discontinuous and widely spaced vascular bundles. The epidermal cells have polygonal shape on the adaxial surface and polygonal or irregular shape on the abaxial surface. The stomata are anomocytic and located on the lower epidermis. The pollen grains are spheroidal or prolate spheroidal, sometimes oblate spheroidal, with a tricolpate aperture and microechinate sculpturing.