Paver somniferum Net volumes and weights: 50ml/45g/1.58oz Other names: opium poppy, sleeping poppy, garden poppy. The poppy has been known for thousands of years. Poppy seeds and capsules have been found during archaeological excavations in European Neolithic habitats dating back five thousand years BC. We found a Sumerian tablet dating back more than 4000 years, where the poppy is described as a “plant of joy”. We know it mainly because opium and heroin are extracted from it. Its seeds were often used in ancient Egypt, especially by priests who connected with the divine by consuming them. Find our recipes and tips for use on our site.