N. 0. PAPAVEBAOE.®. 
77 
coloration is produced, a similar result being given by the base with strong 
snlphuric 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 8 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. 
FI. lad. II. 571. 
Sans. : — Apoka (Apium), Ahiphena (foam of a serpent) ; 
Saphenaka (foamy). 
Vern. : — Nabatiil-khash-khash (Arab) ; Koknftr (Pers.); Post, 
khaskhas-ka per (Hind.); Khasb-kbash-ka-jhar (Dec.); Gaslia 
gasha-chedi, postaka chedi (Tam.) ; Gasagasala-chettu, posta- 
kaya-cbettu (Tel.) ; Kasha-kashach-cheti (Mai.) ; Khasa-khasi- 
gida (Kan); Posbta, posh tnr-gri ebb, afima (Beng.) ; Kliasa- 
khasa-cben jbada (Mar.) ; Kbas khasnu-jh&da (Guz.) ; Bhin- 
bin, bb-ain-bin (Burin) : 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 Thom., 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. 
