Papaveraceae
				Genera : 25
				Species: 200

Distribution: Subtropical and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

Economic Uses: The source of opium used medicinally and illegally in the production of heroin as well as grown as a cultivated ornamental. The latex of some species is used in the treament of warts, for eye disorders and as a dye source for coloring feathers.

Defining Features of Interest: The family produces a whitish or colored latex.

Fossil Evidence: No known fossil record.

Defining Morphology

Floral Features : Actinomorphic and perfect. Flowers are large and borne on an inflorescence of cymes, panicles, umbels or as a solitary flower. Hypogynous (rarely perigynous).

Fruit and Seed Features : Fruit a capsule. Seeds with oily endosperm. Placentation is parietal to axile.

Vegetative Features : Habit as an herb or shrub. Leaves are simple and lobed and dissected or entire, alternate. Stipules are lacking.