NameThatPlant.net: Argemone mexicana

Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Ranunculales

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Argemone mexicana FAMILY Papaveraceae Go to FSUS key

Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.

Learn more about Mexican Prickly-poppy from the Vascular Plants of North Carolina.

SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Argemone mexicana FAMILY Papaveraceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 085-02-002:

Argemone mexicana FAMILY Papaveraceae

COMMON NAME:
Mexican Prickly-poppy, Mexican Poppy

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Argemone mexicana FAMILY Papaveraceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Argemone mexicana FAMILY Papaveraceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 085-02-002:
Argemone mexicana FAMILY Papaveraceae

3224

Forb
Annual

Habitat: Sandy roadsides and disturbed areas, per Weakley's Flora

Native: south Florida, West Indies, southward?

Rare

CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.

DOES THE PLANT HAVE "MILKY SAP"?
Has yellow latex (milky sap)

IS THE PLANT "ARMED"?
Leaf margins spiny ("spinose-dentate")

LEAVES:
Simple
Alternate & basal rosette

FLOWER:
Spring/Summer
Bright yellow, rarely pale lemon yellow
Radially symmetrical, or nearly so
2-merous
2-3 sepals
6 petals
30-50 stamens
Superior ovary
Bisexual

FRUIT:
Spring/Summer?
Capsule

TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!

If a search such as "Carex leptalea var. leptalea" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "Carex leptalea".
Or, to minimize chances of a misspelling, try just "Carex le".

Less is more: If "pencil flower" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "pencil".