Argemone mexicana L.

Papaveraceae, G. L. Lucas (East African Herbarium). Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1962

Morphology General Habit

Herbs erect up to about 1.2 m. high, often branching near the base.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves sessile, ± sheathing (amplexicaul); prickles if present mainly on the veins of the abaxial surface ; leaves with midrib and veins irregularly outlined in greyish-white on the adaxial surface.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 2.5–4.5 cm. in diameter, subtended by 1 or 2 foliaceous bracts.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 3, caducous, covered to a greater or lesser degree with prickles.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 6, yellow more rarely cream-white, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens numerous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Stigma and style persistent, 1–3 mm. long in fruit.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule oblong to broadly ellipsoid, 1.2–4.5 × 2.5 × 2.0 cm. ; valves 4–6, which split away from the vascular strands for about 1/3 of their length, exposing a cage-like frame of these vascular strands, attached apically to the persistent stigma ; outer valve-surface prickly in all tropical East African specimens seen (see Note below).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds up to 2 mm. in diameter, subspherical with a small beak at one end ; testa pitted in rows radiating from the micropyle end.

Figures

Fig. 1.

Habitat

Waste places, roadsides and abandoned cultivated ground ; 0–1800 m.

Distribution

a native of Central America introduced as a weed in East Africa as in most other tropical and subtropical regions of the world. K4 K7 T1 T2 T3 T4 T6 T8 U2 U4 Z

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Erect herbs to c. 1.2 m high, glaucous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with ± clasping base, often with prickles on veins beneath; midrib and veins irregularly outlined in greyish white on the upper leaf surface

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 2.5–4.5 cm in diam., subtended by 1 or 2 leafy bracts

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 3, prickly

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 6, yellow or cream, glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma

Stigma and style persistent, 1–3 mm long in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule ± oblong, 1.2–4.5 cm long, dehiscing by 4–6 valves in apical part, leaving behind a cage-like frame of vascular strands

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds subglobose with a small beak at one end, up to 2 mm in diam.

Distribution

Specimens seen only from N3, but no doubt occurring also in other regions. Pantropical weed of Central American origin with seeds rich in oil.

Vernacular

Mexican poppy, prickly poppy (English)

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Andean. Elevation range: 75–2210 m a.s.l. Naturalised in Colombia. Colombian departments: Antioquia, Bolívar, Boyacá, Cundinamarca, Magdalena, Norte de Santander, Santander, Tolima, Valle del Cauca.

Habit

Herb.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, artificial - terrestrial.

Vernacular

Cardosanto, Tissly

Papaveraceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:1. 1954

Morphology General Habit

A prickly glaucous erect herb

Morphology General Exudate

Yellow juice

Morphology Leaves

Leaves semi-amplexicaul, pinnately lobed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers bright yellow

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule smooth or setose, 3–4 cm. long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds pitted-reticulate.

Papaveraceae, A. W. Exell. Flora Zambesiaca 1:1. 1960

Morphology General Habit

Erect, glaucous herb up to 1 m. tall.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves sessile, ± amplexicaul, sinuate-pinnatifid with prickly teeth, often variegated.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 3.5–4.5 cm. in diam., bright yellow, cream or white.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 3 x 1.5 cm., ellipsoid.

The Useful Plants of Boyacá project

Ecology

Alt. 75 - 2210 m.

Morphology General Habit

Herb.

Distribution

Naturalised in Colombia.

Conservation

Not Evaluated.

Vernacular

Tissly.

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution

Naturalizada en Colombia; Alt. 75 - 2210 m.; Andes.

Morphology General Habit

Hierba

Conservation

No Evaluada

Use Medicines Unspecified Medicinal Disorders

Medicinal (State of the World's Plants 2016, Instituto Humboldt 2014).