By Blackfinger
United Kingdom 
We have a number of large ornamental, shaggy-petalled poppies, mainly orange or red. Each year a black, tarry substance appears just below the poppy head. If left, the flower head eventually drops off. It leaves a sticky smear on the fingers when I try to remove it. I've used bug sprays which do not work. Any suggestions, please?
Thank you,
Tony Grange.
14 Jun, 2016
Answers
Sounds like opium to me. This is what they collect in the opium fields.
14 Jun, 2016
Are you sure? I thought it was derived mainly from the seeds and seed heads?
14 Jun, 2016
Opium is produced by the poppy head which leeches out latex. I'm no expert on opium but just assumed the stuff Blackfinger was getting on his hands was the latex. I can't imagine what else it could be.
14 Jun, 2016
it is the latex and discolours in contact with the air. a sap sucking bug is probably wounding the stem then it is 'bleeding' latex.
14 Jun, 2016
Just joining this in order to see any replies
14 Jun, 2016