Scientific Name
Argemone mexicana
Common Name
Mexican pricklepoppy, prickly poppy, thornapple

TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN.

Characteristics

Family
Papaveraceae
Plant Description
Annual herb with bright yellow sap; leaves alternate, simple, with spine-tipped lobes and whitish wax that rubs off; flowers with 4-6, bright yellow petals (cream-yellow or white forms) and many stamens.
Origin
Central America to southern USA.
Distribution
Southern Coastal Plain, garden ornamental.
Where Found
Weedy in disturbed areas in waste places, roadsides, old fields, pastures, barnyards, gardens.
Mode
Ingestion.
Poisonous Part
All parts, seeds.
Symptoms
Vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty of seeing, fainting, and coma.
Toxic Principle
Isoquinoline alkaloids.
Severity
TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN.

"Poisonous Plants of North Carolina," Dr. Alice B. Russell, Department of Horticultural Science; Dr. James W. Hardin, Botany; Dr. Larry Grand, Plant Pathology; and Dr. Angela Fraser, Family and Consumer Sciences; North Carolina State University. All Pictures Copyright @1997Alice B. Russell, James W. Hardin, Larry Grand. Computer programming, Miguel A. Buendia; graphics, Brad Capel.

Disclaimer: The list of poisonous plants on this web site does not necessarily include every poisonous plant that is known, or that might be found in an urban landscape or home. North Carolina State University does not advise eating any of the plants included in this web site. The information concerning edibility is taken from the literature, and the degree of reliability is unknown. We discourage the use of any of these plants for self medication. In cases of accidental exposure or ingestion, contact the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

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