A new strain of garden poppy weas developed in Tasmaina which produces more thebaine then the origonal garden poppy and is grown alongside the opium poppie in the fields of Tasmaina. Oriental poppy pods are one third the size of garden poppies and produce one third the amount of seeds. In the Great Red Oriental, thebaine concentraion reaches a peak in capsuoles 3-4 weeks (latex 28-53% thebaine) after the petals open and then two weeks later it peakes again. Fully mature capsules (dried) produce higher yields as thebaine is "unbound" at this stage and is more completley estracted, plus seeds can be used for food. The alkaliod yields are from 0.32%-3.75% thebaine for capsules. Alkaloid production increases with the age of plants. Plants which are several years old (3-4 years) produce more flowers and contain higher concentrations of thebaine than younger plants. Petretment of seeds with colchicine increases thebaine production in plants.
