Argemone mexicana / Prickly Poppy / Papaveraceae (Poppy family)

Information

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Other Names

Prickly Poppy, Thornapple, Gambode Thistle, Goatweed, Mexican Poppy, Satyanashi, Cardo Santo, Cardo Amarillo, Herbe a Femme, Chokh, Devil's Fig, Lao Shu Le, Ne, Brahmadandi, Bramha-dondi, Chicalote, Stachelmohn, Tashmezg.

Description

Argemone mexicana is commonly known as Mexican Prickly Poppy or Goatweed. The leaves are variously lobed and its thorns are white and prominent with large yellow flowers. The tough stem has thorns and yellow sap. It is often found in pastures and grows in Central America, Southern USA and India. It is used in ayurvedic medicine. Dried and powdered plant material is recommended as green manure as it contain sufficient amount of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. The Prickly Poppy is native to the New World, whereas the Opium Poppy was an Old World plant.