Novogranatense

Novogranatense is a botanical variety of Papaver somniferum, the opium poppy, usually cited as Papaver somniferum var. novogranatense. The epithet refers to New Granada, the historic name for a region that is roughly modern Colombia, and the variety was among several lineages described in the 19th and early 20th centuries for opium production.

Morphologically, novogranatense plants are annuals with the herbaceous habit and typical poppy leaves; flowers range in color from white to pink or purple, and the fruit capsules are relatively large. Like other opium poppies, they produce a latex in the unripe pods that contains a mix of alkaloids, including morphine, codeine, thebaine, and papaverine. The exact alkaloid profile varies with genetics, environment, and agronomic practices; novogranatense groups have historically been associated with higher yields of certain opiate alkaloids, which contributed to their selection in some regions.

The plant is primarily cultivated for its latex in contexts where opiate alkaloid extraction is legal, whereas seed material is also used for culinary poppy seeds. Today, cultivation of Papaver somniferum and its varieties is heavily regulated in most countries to control illicit drug production. The name novogranatense therefore evokes both its botanical identity and its historical connection to the New Granada region. See also Papaver somniferum, opium poppy, thebaine.