Lucas Land
Prickly Poppy
Argemone mexicana
From Nearctica
Alien: Native of the American tropics.
Identification: Flower yellow to orange, larger (over 2 inches in diameter), with 4 to 6 petals. Seed pods oval, bristly. Stem bristly. Leaves dissected with sharp prickles on the ends of the lobes.
Distribution: Iowa in the west to New England in the east, southward to Florida and Texas.
Habitat: Prickly Poppy is a weed and is found in vacant lots, roadsides, and other recently disturbed habitats.
Flowering period: May to September.
Similar Species: The prickly leaves and stems in combination with the large yellow to orange flowers are distinctive.