Afim plant uses.
Afim plant uses. Afim (Opium Poppy): A Plant of Power and Controversy Introduction Botanical Description Afim belongs to the Papaveraceae family and is an annual flowering plant. It grows between 3 to 5 feet tall , with bluish-green leaves and large, showy flowers that range in color from white and pink to deep red and purple. The most important part of the plant is its seed pod , which contains a milky latex rich in alkaloids like morphine, codeine, and thebaine —compounds responsible for its narcotic effects. The seeds of the plant, however, do not contain significant amounts of these alkaloids and are commonly used in cooking, particularly in baked goods and traditional dishes across Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia. Historical Uses and Significance The opium poppy has been used for over 5,000 years , with early records dating back to Mesopotamia (circa 3400 BCE) . The Sumerians referred to it as the “ joy plant ” and passed their knowledge to the Egyptians, Greeks, and Roma...