Practical
Plants

Argemone mexicana

Prickly Poppy

a perennial member of the Argemone genus in the family Papaveraceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.6 m
Spread
0.45 m
Fertility
self fertile
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

All parts of the plant, including the seed, contain toxic alkaloids[6].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves[7] No further details are given but caution is advised, see the notes on toxicity at the top of the page.

Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The whole plant is analgesic, antispasmodic, possibly hallucinogenic and sedative[17][19][8][9][10][15]. It contains alkaloids similar to those in the opium poppy (P. somniferum) and so can be used as a mild pain-killer[15]. The fresh yellow, milky, acrid sap contains protein-dissolving substances and has been used in the treatment of warts, cold sores, cutaneous affections, skin diseases, itches etc[12][14][15]. It has also been used to treat cataracts[15] and has been taken internally in the treatment of dropsy and jaundice[13][14]. The root is alterative and has been used in the treatment of chronic skin diseases[13][14]. The flowers are expectorant and have been used in the treatment of coughs and other chest complaints[15]. The seed is demulcent, emetic, expectorant and laxative[13][14]. An infusion, in small quantities, is used as a sedative for children, but caution is advised since the oil in the seed is strongly purgative[15]. The seed has also been used as an antidote to snake poisoning[13][14]. The pounded seeds, mixed with mustard oil, are applied externally to treat itchy skin[16]. The oil from the seed is demulcent and purgative[15][16]. It has been used externally in the treatment of skin problems[13][14][16]. Caution is advised in the use of this oil, prolonged ingestion produces toxic effects resembling those occurring in epidemic dropsy[13].

Product or use
Alterative
Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Antitussive
Product or use
Demulcent
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Hallucinogenic
Product or use
Purgative
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Skin
Product or use
Warts

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed, used for lighting, soap etc[17][19][2][5][16]. A medicinal fixed oil (essential oil?) is obtained from the seed[8].

Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Oil

Environment

Range
South-western N. America. Naturalized in C. and S. Europe[18].
Habitat
Dry soils along roadsides and in waste places and fields[20][10].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow April in situ[11]. The seed usually germinates in 3 - 4 weeks at 15°c[3].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Easily grown in a light soil in a sunny position[1][3][4]. Does best in a poor well-drained soil[3]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[11]. Usually grown as a hardy annual in Britain[1]. It resents being transplanted and should be sown in situ[3].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Haywood. V. H. Flowering Plants of the World. Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-217674-9

    ↩

  3. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00

    ↩

  5. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩

  6. Bird. R. (Editor) Focus on Plants. Volume 5. (formerly 'Growing from seed') Thompson and Morgan. 1991-00-00

    ↩

  7. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  8. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩1↩2

  9. Pesman. M. W. Meet Flora Mexicana. Dale S. King. Arizona. 1962-00-00

    ↩

  10. Emboden. W. Narcotic Plants Studio Vista 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-289-70864-8

    ↩1↩2

  11. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  12. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩

  13. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  14. Medicinal Plants of Nepal Dept. of Medicinal Plants. Nepal. 1993-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  15. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  16. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  17. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  18. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  19. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  20. Small. Manual of the Southeastern Flora.

    ↩

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