Papaver Rhoeas
Family: Papaveraceae
English: Poppy
According to Atheneus' treatises on gastronomy, the tiny, lead-coloured pellets of this plant (known as "mekon") were used to add flavour to a kind of bread known as "mekonides". Greek mythology says that poppies sprouted from the blood of Adonis.
This plant can be found in flat and semimountainous areas, where the ground has been slightly disturbed, and in olive groves. In winter and early in spring, before the plant blooms, the stalks are picked and mixed with spinach, sorrel, fennel to make herb pies. The flowers are large with bright red petals with or without a black spot at base. It blooms from end of February to early June. The seed capsule is hairless and more or less globular. The capsule is approximately 2 cm long, often with a whitish bloom that encloses the precious pellets. These pellets, as well as the capsules, were used by ancient Greek physicians as sedatives during operations. These were often imported from Egypt (e.g. "mekon the sleep-inducing"). The common field poppy, thriving in the Greek countryside, contains alkaloids, e.g. roiodine, and a smaller quantity of papaverine. Owing to these substances, the plant, particularly its flowers, were widely used in popular medicine.
Poppy decoctions were used as sedatives for children. Greek women would also prepare a kind of tea made ;from poppy flowers, pomegranate skin and sugar to treat cough. Currently, a kind of cough syrup ingredient is extracted from poppy flowers.
Popular Greek names:
"Paparouna", "Koutsounada", "Lales", "Peteinos", "Kokkinouda".
