Prickly Poppy
Argemone pleiacantha ?
Photographed at Hassayampa Box Canyon, Yavapai Co., Arizona. April 2008.
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ARMED. Leaves, buds and stems are covered with long, thin, sharp
prickles. In addition the foliage contains alkaloids of varying toxicity.
ANNUAL: Tall annual of sandy or gravelly soil mostly along washes. Also
at roadsides and pastures.
LEAVES: Leaves are deeply lobed with sharply serrate margines.
Blue-green in color.
RANGE: Several species of white-petaled Argemone poppies may be
present in the Sonoran Desert. A. pleiacantha may dominate in the
eastern portions of the Sonoran and into the Chihuahuan Deserts. Separation of
the species requires sometimes hazardous examination of the arrangement of
prickles. The plants are avoided by grazing animals and therefore become common
and weedy on rangeland.
FLOWERS: Large, broad, white petals surround a dense group of many yellow
stamens. Flowering mid to late spring through summer months.
FRUIT: Dry capsules also densely prickly split from apex to release
numerous small seeds.