Mexican prickly-poppy, Argemone mexicana
A lot of plants that populate old fields are grasses or plantains or others that don't offer much color. This prickly poppy is at the other extreme. These large bright flowers can be up to three inches across. But they come at a price, and are very toxic. Prickly-poppies have spread around the world, even to Fiji. An item in Wiki says the pods resemble mustard, which I don't see at all. Mustard pods are much narrower. It goes on to say that because of the resemblance, they can be accidentally mixed and cause poisoning of people that use mustard. I'm more skeptical and pessimistic. When it gets to the point that mustard bottles in India have to offer a guarantee of no Argemone, it seems at best carelessly deliberate. Mexican prickly-poppy has been reported from AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, MB, and ON. Polk Co FL, 3/16/16.
Latest comments
Hi Denise
Just thinking it's almost time to come look for Platanthera flava. Bob
Hi Bob:
I found it on Eber Rd, about 1.5 mi S. of Kitty Todd Preserve 1/4 mi from Metroparks land. I’m guessing it came in on the RR. (NwOhio)
Apparently so, but not on all plants. The brown only shows a little in this image.
Regarding umber pussytoes, one reference calls it brown-brackted pussytoes. Are it's bracts browner than other pussytoes?