Presented in Association with the Western New Mexico University Department
of Natural Sciences
Papaveraceae (Poppy Family)
The Papaveraceae have regular flowers with alternate leaves. The ovary is superior and matures
as a capsule. There are many stamens, and petals in multiples of four. The flowers are usually showy.
Many plants in this family contain narcotic alkaloids. Opium comes from Papaver somiferum which is not
native here.