OSAKA - With its vivid petals and delicate appearance, the poppy of Troy (papaver setigerum) may seem like a beautiful addition to the landscape—but beneath its beauty lies a serious danger. Known for its exceptionally strong reproductive capabilities, this wild poppy species is now being discovered in various parts of Japan during its blooming season.
Poppy of Troy contains ingredients used to produce opium, a type of narcotic drug. Under Japan's Opium Law, cultivating it without official permission is strictly prohibited.
In 2022, a massive outbreak occurred on Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture, where authorities discovered around 13,000 plants. Due to its aggressive growth, the only effective response is to pull the plants out by the roots. If left untouched during the flowering stage, the seeds will scatter and the plant count is expected to multiply the following year.
Tetsuen Nanami, director of the Botanical Gardens at Osaka Metropolitan University, joined a recent broadcast to shed light on the dangers of the poppy of Troy, an invasive plant that, while visually stunning, poses a significant legal and health risk. “The poppy of Troy is originally a wild plant from the Mediterranean region,” explained Nanami. “What makes it rare is that it can bloom so magnificently without any human cultivation or selective breeding.” The plant’s large, vivid purple flowers stand out dramatically among Japan’s natural foliage, catching the eyes of passersby. But that beauty masks a serious threat—poppy of Troy contains morphine alkaloids, the raw material for opium, and its cultivation is strictly prohibited under Japanese law.
Nanami emphasized that even if the plant appears unintentionally in private gardens—its seeds carried by the wind or birds—citizens must take immediate action. “It’s perfectly natural to want to care for it because it looks so beautiful,” he said, “but because it contains narcotic ingredients, it’s essential to contact your local health office or the police for proper disposal.” The average person, however, might not recognize the plant for what it is. “People don’t realize it’s illegal, and visually, it’s quite lovely,” Nanami added. In fact, the plant’s aroma offers no warning; “poppies in general don’t smell pleasant,” he noted. When damaged, the plant exudes a milky white sap that contains toxic alkaloids, which can cause allergic reactions in some people.
He also touched on the historical context of opium production, recalling that during a period when the Taliban permitted widespread poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, sap from similar plants was intentionally harvested by scraping the stems. The substance was then chemically processed in multiple stages to ultimately extract morphine. “But just having the flower doesn’t mean it’s immediately dangerous,” Nanami explained. “Without going through that whole chemical process, its risk level is relatively low.”
The program also clarified confusion with other poppy varieties. For example, Nichigeshi, despite its similar appearance, does not contain narcotic substances and is perfectly legal to grow. “You can plant Nichigeshi in your garden, or even write poems and songs about it,” Nanami said with a smile.
To help viewers differentiate between legal and illegal poppies, Nanami offered a basic identification tip. Legal varieties have deeply notched leaves that grow directly from the stem, resembling fish bones or bird feathers. In contrast, poppy of Troy leaves wrap around the stem and have irregular jagged edges, forming the shape most people typically associate with a leaf. “It’s subtle, but if you know what to look for, you can tell them apart,” he said. While leaf-wrapping behavior is rare, it’s not unique to poppy of Troy and can be found in other wild Japanese weeds.
With Nanami in the studio, the conversation turned to a fascinating topic—plants that, like humans, have separate sexes. One well-known example is the ginkgo tree. “Most plants have both male and female organs in a single flower,” he explained. “But some species divide these roles across different trees, meaning there are distinctly male and female plants.” Only female ginkgo trees produce the well-known nuts, which are prized for cooking. However, in urban areas like Osaka’s main Midosuji street, municipalities have intentionally reduced the number of female ginkgo trees due to the large volumes of smelly, slippery nuts that fall during the season. “In the past, people used to gather the fallen nuts in bags during special events, but these days, the trees have been replaced to make the streets safer,” said Nanami.
Before wrapping up, Nanami introduced a particularly intriguing species called Yamahashi, a member of the camphor family. “It’s a mysterious plant—only female trees grow in Japan,” he revealed. Remarkably, these female trees do not require pollen and are capable of producing seeds entirely on their own. “The seeds they generate are genetic clones of the parent tree,” he said. While male Yamahashi trees exist on the Asian continent and reproduce through typical pollination, the Japanese variety appears to thrive independently. What would happen if these female trees were exposed to pollen remains unknown, adding to the botanical mystery.
The segment concluded with a lighthearted nod to the wonders of the plant world, leaving viewers with both cautionary advice and a deeper appreciation for nature’s complexity.
Source: KTV NEWS
