More than 2200 species of the wild flora and fauna photographed in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico and the surrounding area.
Optimized for viewing on desktop or laptop
Flowers of Zihuatanejo
Mexican Poppy
Argemone ochroleuca
Flowers by Colour
-Vascular Plants (Phylum Tracheophyta)
-Flowering Plants (Subphylum Angiospermae)
-Buttercups, Poppies, and Allies (Order Ranunculales)
-Poppy Family (Family Papaveraceae)
-Subfamily Papaveroideae
-Tribe Papavereae
-Prickly Poppies (Genus Argemone)
-Mexican Poppy (Argemone ochroleuca)
Prickly poppies belong to the genus Argemone, a group of spiny, flowering plants in the poppy family (Papaveraceae). These plants are known for their distinctive prickly leaves and stems, as well as their large, showy flowers that resemble traditional poppies. Argemone species are commonly found in arid and semi-arid regions.
Description
• Argemone ochroleuca, commonly known as pale Mexican poppy or pale prickly poppy, is a prickly annual herb in the poppy family (Papaveraceae). It has bluish-green, deeply lobed leaves with conspicuous pale veins and sharp prickles along their margins. Its flowers have pale yellow to creamy-white petals surrounding a cluster of yellow stamens. The plant produces an oblong, spiny seed capsule and exudes yellowish sap when damaged. All parts should be treated with caution because the plant contains toxic alkaloids.
Range
• Argemone ochroleuca is native to Mexico and has spread widely as a naturalized plant in warm regions of the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia. It is native to Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and the surrounding area.
Habitat
• This hardy plant grows in open, sunny, disturbed environments, including roadsides, agricultural fields, vacant lots, dry grasslands, and scrubland. It tolerates heat, drought, and poor soils, and often colonizes exposed ground during the dry season or following disturbance.