rachamim
Bluelighter
- Joined
- May 23, 2006
- Messages
- 7,769
Ahhh, but then Tchort supplies links to papers I was hoping people would find on their own (so that it would actually matter to them). Anyway,good post but to the OP, the answer as I have said time and again is NO, there is no one variety of Somniferum (or Setigerum) that consistently provides more morphine. Consistency is only vague in terms of morphine content but is related to growing technique and to enviornmental conditions.
As I have said in another ecent thread, the biological phase of the plant is the thing that most matters. Alkaloidal content increases until Technical Ripeness, and then QUICKLY diminishes thereafter until, when dead on the stalk, it can be minimal. Technical Ripeness is 10 to 14 days AFTER the LAST petal has dropped from the pod. The pod, by Technical Definition will be elongated (more than usual)., will have taken on a dewy and greenish/blusih appearance (depending on the variety), and the Corona will be ertect (fully and completely).
If you have a field, they bloom and reach Tech. Ripeness at different times and so for a commerical grower/producer of opium they are never going to have great alkaloid content all around. They take the first lancing of each pod and combine it for their best product, or alternatively take all lancings, combine them and have a much lower overall content.
If you have a 10 meter by 10 meter plot, you can get pretty good readings. Pod content though is dependant upon growing technique and environment only.
I need to add, the High Thebiane varieties resulted from mutations and not tradtional botanical technique. From the mutations they of course could then breed in traits they desired (thebaine because of the 80/20 rule was a neccessary evil and then when Purdue had their brainstorm it became an idea of genius, genius of course being ability AND timing).
As I have said in another ecent thread, the biological phase of the plant is the thing that most matters. Alkaloidal content increases until Technical Ripeness, and then QUICKLY diminishes thereafter until, when dead on the stalk, it can be minimal. Technical Ripeness is 10 to 14 days AFTER the LAST petal has dropped from the pod. The pod, by Technical Definition will be elongated (more than usual)., will have taken on a dewy and greenish/blusih appearance (depending on the variety), and the Corona will be ertect (fully and completely).
If you have a field, they bloom and reach Tech. Ripeness at different times and so for a commerical grower/producer of opium they are never going to have great alkaloid content all around. They take the first lancing of each pod and combine it for their best product, or alternatively take all lancings, combine them and have a much lower overall content.
If you have a 10 meter by 10 meter plot, you can get pretty good readings. Pod content though is dependant upon growing technique and environment only.
I need to add, the High Thebiane varieties resulted from mutations and not tradtional botanical technique. From the mutations they of course could then breed in traits they desired (thebaine because of the 80/20 rule was a neccessary evil and then when Purdue had their brainstorm it became an idea of genius, genius of course being ability AND timing).
