N. 0. PAPAVERA0E2E. W 



coloration is produced, a similar result being given by the base with strong 

 sulphuric acid in which a crystal of potassium chlorate has been dissolved. 

 The hydrochloride gives a greyish-blue, green, brown, and finally black 

 coloration, with a solution of 2 or 3 drops of 40 per cent, formalin in 3 C C. of 

 concentrated sulphuric acid ; with strong sulphuric acid, especially in the 

 presence of potassium nitrate, or with fuming nitric and sulphuric acids in the 

 presence of potassium dichromate, a brown coloration. 



The hydrochloride produces on the tongue at first a burning and then a 

 numbing sensation. The alkaloid is a tetanus poison, similar to thebaine— 

 (J. Ch. S. LXXXVIII, part I., p. 368). 



60. P. somniferum, Linn, h.f.b.i., i. 117. Roxb. 

 Fl. Ind. II. 571. 



Sans. : — Apoka (Apiura), Ahiphena (foam of a serpent) ; 

 Saphenaka (foamy). 



Vern. : — Nabatul-khash-khash (Arab) ; Koknar (Pers.); Post, 

 khaskbas-ka per (Hind.); Khash-kbash-ka-jhar (Dec.); Gash a 

 gasha-chedi, postaka chedi (Tam.) ; Gasagasala-chettu, posta- 

 kaya-chettu (Teh); Kasha-kashach-cheti (Mai.) ; Khasa-khasi- 

 gida (Kan); Poshta, poshtar-gochh, afima (Beng.) ; Khasa- 

 khasa-chen jhada (Mar/, ; Khas kbasnu-jhada (Guz.) ; Bhin- 

 bin, bh-airi-bin (Barm) : Khasakhasi-chenjhada (Bom.). 



An annual herb, with a milky juice ; rarely branched, 2-4 ft., 

 glaucous, simple, usually quite glabrous. Leaves oblong, 

 amplexicaul, lobed, toothed and serrate, sometimes ovate-oblong 

 or linear-oblong Flowers large white, on long peduncles, 

 purple or scarlet. Sepals glabrous. Filaments slightly dilated. 

 Ovary one-celled. Stigma discoid, with radiating lobes opposite 

 the placentas which project into the cell Capsule 1 in. diam., 

 stalked, globose, glabrous, stigmatic rays 5-12, persistent, 

 have each a small valve under the lobes, through which the 

 innumerable, fine, white, delicious, oily seeds escape. There are 

 black seeds also, say Hooker f. and Thorn., but I have never seen 

 them on this side of India. 



Cultivated throughout India. The largest quantity comes to 

 Bombay from Malwa. 



Use : — The medicinal properties and therapeutic uses of 

 opium and its preparations are too well-known to be described 

 here. 



