When the seed is ripe the capsule begins to dry out thus lifting the top cover of the capsule and giving rise to little openings around the rim through which the seeds can be released. The seeds are numerous tiny gray to brown kidney-shaped speckles which are edible and yield a fine, high quality oil. The leaves, stem and capsule all contain a white milky juice which extrudes as soon as the surface of any of these parts is broken. It becomes brown when dried and is commonly referred to as raw Opium . Flowering time is between April and August.
Poppies are common throughout Europe and Eurasia as wild escapes from cultivation.
They often grow in corn fields and waste places where they get plenty of sun and well drained soil. In most countries it is illegal to cultivate Poppies without license, though in Europe it is commonly grown as an ornamental. Harvesting, however is strictly prohibited everywhere. P. somniferum is subject to statutory control as a weed in Australia. The most prominent being Morphine, Codeine, Thebaine, Papaverine and Noscapine.