The curious yellow colouring matter of the Iceland poppy.

The pigment responsible for the yellow colour of the Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule) has fascinated chemists for decades. Named nudicaulin by Sir Robert Robinson in 1939, this flavoalkaloid has been the subject of several structural elucidation, biosynthesis, total synthesis and chemical ecology investigations. This account provides a chronological overview of the fascinating history of this natural product.