Gumófélék

Gumófélék is the Hungarian name for the family of flowering plants known scientifically as Papaveraceae. This family includes a variety of herbaceous plants, many of which are known for their vibrant flowers and, in some cases, their milky sap. The most well-known member of this family is the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum, from which opium and its derivatives like morphine and codeine are extracted. However, the family also encompasses many other species cultivated for their ornamental value, such as various types of poppies with showy, often red or orange, petals.

Members of the Papaveraceae family are typically annual or perennial herbs, though some can be shrubs. Their leaves are usually alternate and lobed or divided. The flowers are often solitary and bisexual, featuring numerous stamens and a superior ovary. The fruit is typically a capsule that opens by pores or valves, releasing numerous small seeds. Beyond their ornamental and medicinal uses, some species also yield edible seeds, like those from the opium poppy, which are used in baking. The family is distributed worldwide, with the greatest diversity found in temperate and subtropical regions.