Papaveraceae

Argemone ochroleuca

Common Names: Mexican poppy

Plant Form: Erect annual herb. Size: Up to 1.5 m tall. Stem: Bluish 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: White to yellowish, 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: Lighter coloured flowers and more spines on capsules than American poppy (Argemone mexicana). Impacts: Unpalatable, reduces wool value, contaminates stock feed, suspected to be toxic.