Papaveraceae

Argemone mexicana

Common Names: Mexican poppy

Plant Form: Erect annual herb. Size: Up to 1.5 m tall. Stem: Green, up to 1 m long and smooth or slightly covered in hairs, with yellow prickles. Leaves: Undivided, irregularly toothed to lobed, spiny, up to 12 cm long. Flowers: Generally bright yellow, up to 7 cm diameter. Fruit and Seeds: Capsules up to 40 mm long, with many large, dark seeds. Habitat: Roadsides, degraded land. Distinguishing Features: Darker coloured flowers and fewer spines on capsules than Mexican Poppy (Argemone ochroleuca). Impacts: Unpalatable, reduces wool value, contaminates stock feed, suspected to be toxic.

Flowers are an intense yellow

Mid-rib is white

rosette when small

0.5 m tall when mature