Among oil seed poppy varieties differences exist in colour and shade of the seed. The best insight into the nature of a variety with respect to the colour and shade of the seed is obtained by examining seed of individual plants. Some varieties (Emmabloem, Nobel) produce seed of one colour; others (Noordster, Eckendorf selections) are composed of plants which differ in seed colour. In a plant by plant analysis, each colour always appears in a series of shades. Important differences exist in the shade-variation curve of the different varieties. The development of the shades is influenced by environmental conditions. In some varieties (Emmabloem, Nobel) selection for shade did not result in a shift of the range of shades in the offspring. In other varieties (Noordster, Eckendorf selections) a shift did occur. Selection for colour always had a clear positive effect. The shade of poppy seed shows a high correlation with the calcium oxalate content of the outer layer of the seed coat. The height of the ridges on the seedcoat affects the quality of the outward appearance of the seed. High ridges make the seed rough to the touch and create the impression of bulky kernels. Within varieties, however, the height of the ridges is negetatively correlated with kernel weight. In the varieties Emmabloem and Nobel only high ridges are found on the seedcoat. Other varieties (Noordster and Eckendorf selections) are variable with respect to this character. In these varieties nearly smooth seeds occur.