Glaucium flavum (yellow hornpoppy, sea-poppy or yellow horned poppy) is a summer flowering plant in the Papaveraceae family, it is native to Northern Africa, Macronesia, temperate zones in Western Asia and the Caucasus, as well as Europe. The plant grows on the seashore and is never found inland. All parts of the plant, including the seeds, are toxic. It is classed as a noxious weed, in some areas of North America, where it is an introduced species. It is grown in gardens as a short-lived perennial but usually grown as a biennial.
Description
It has thick, leathery deeply segmented, wavy, bluish-grey leaves, which are coated in a layer of water-retaining wax. The sepal, petals and stamen have a similar structure and form to the Red Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), except the sepals are not hairy.[2] It grows up to 30–90 cm (12–35 in) tall,[3] on branched, grey stems. It blooms in summer,[4] between June and October.[3][5] It has bright yellow or orange flowers,[4] that are 7.5 cm (3.0 in) across.[3] Later it produces a very long,nupright,[4] thin,[3] distinctive horn shaped capsule, which is 15–30 cm (5.9–11.8 in) long. It is divided into two chambers,[2] which split open to reveal the seeds.[3]
Taxonomy
It was first published and described by Heinrich Johann Nepomuk von Crantz in 'Stirp. Austr. Fasc.' (Stirpium Austriarum) vol.2 on page 131 in 1763.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). The species epithetflavum is Latin for yellow and indicates its flower colour.[6]
It is commonly known as sea-poppy,[7]horned-poppy, and yellow horned-poppy.[8]
It grows on shingle banks and beaches,[5] but can also be found on cliff tops and in sand dunes.[3]
Toxicity
It produces an orange foul smelling sap, if cut open.[3] All parts of the plant, including the seeds, are toxic,
and can cause a wide range of symptoms including brain damage (if eaten),[3] and respiratory failure, resulting in death.[10]
It is listed of the FDA Poisonous Plant Database since 1959.[11]
Uses
In the past, it was known in Hampshire, UK as 'squatmore', and the roots were used to treat bruises.[3]
^Cortijo J, Villagrasa V, Pons R, Berto L, Martí-Cabrera M, Martinez-Losa M, Domenech T, Beleta J, Morcillo EJ. Bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory activities of glaucine: In vitro studies in human airway smooth muscle and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. British Journal of Pharmacology. 1999 Aug;127(7):1641-51. PMID10455321
^Rühle KH, Criscuolo D, Dieterich HA, Köhler D, Riedel G. Objective evaluation of dextromethorphan and glaucine as antitussive agents. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 1984 May;17(5):521-4. PMID6375709
^Rovinskiĭ VI. A case of hallucinogen-like action of glaucine. (Russian). Klinicheskaia Meditsina (Mosk). 1989 Sep;67(9):107-8. PMID2586025
^Rovinskiĭ VI. Acute glaucine syndrome in the physician's practice: the clinical picture and potential danger. (Russian). Klinicheskaia Meditsina (Mosk). 2006;84(11):68-70. PMID17243616
^Dargan PI, Button J, Hawkins L, Archer JR, Ovaska H, Lidder S, Ramsey J, Holt DW, Wood DM. Detection of the pharmaceutical agent glaucine as a recreational drug. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2008 May;64(5):553-4. PMID18204834