Inspired by 365-fellow Jerome's @jerome great poppy series (two weeks ago), I have spun the thoughts a little further and add today a picture with an opened poppy capsule. Opened, it gives insight of the structure of the capsule and the Thousands of tiny heart–shaped poppy seeds with those great patterns and structures. (Biologist say kidney-shaped,… nope, they have no idea!, I see hearts). Seeds from the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) have been harvested from dried seed pods by various civilizations for thousands of years. The seeds are used, whole or ground, as an ingredient in many foods.
In the Swiss kitchen they don't play a big role. But, I have roots in Austria and there you can’t think of traditional pastry without poppy seeds.
By the way: poppy seeds contain Morphine and Codeine in such small quantities that consumption in processed form is safe, even for children.
Great composition- looks like a hand over flowing with seeds. My fact about poppy seeds, they are in the pepper family. I found this out because my husband who is allergic to peppers,chilies etc reacted to a poppy seed kaiser roll.
@joysabin Hi walks @ 7, you are right! They do not belong to the same family but both contain a variety of naturally occurring drugs known as alkaloids which protect the plant from insects, predators and disease. AND they are well known to cause chronic inflammation and allergies in the humans body!