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Sonoran pricklypoppy

Scientific Name: Argemone gracilenta

Family: Papaveraceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Argemone gracilenta (Sonoran Prickly Poppy)

The Argemone gracilenta, commonly known as the Sonoran Prickly Poppy, is an herbaceous plant found in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.

Considerations for Pets

  • The leaves, buds, and stems are covered with long, thin, sharp prickles.
  • The foliage contains alkaloids of varying toxicity.

Considerations for Children

  • The leaves, buds, and stems are covered with long, thin, sharp prickles.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Argemone gracilenta Greene
  • Common Names: Sonoran Prickly Poppy, Prickly Poppy, Cowboys Fried Eggs, Cardo, Crested Pricklepoppy, Bluestem Pricklepoppy
  • Family: Papaveraceae (Poppy family)
  • Order: Papaverales
  • Rank: Species
  • Symbol: ARGR3

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to the Sonoran Desert region, including parts of Arizona, Baja California, and Sonora, Mexico.
  • Found in washes, outwash plains, and deserts at elevations ranging from 0 to 900 meters.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • Argemone gracilenta is described as a forb/herb, which is a non-woody plant that is not a grass.
  • It can be either an annual or perennial plant.

Traditional Uses

  • Historically, in Sonora, Mexico, a plant in the Argemone genus (likely a related species) was incorporated into their pharmacopeia and called "cardosanto".
  • The Seri people of Sonora, Mexico have used Argemone mexicana medicinally to relieve kidney pain.

Quirky Facts

  • The name "Sonoran" is derived from the Spanish word "sonora," meaning "sonorous".

Related Species

  • Argemone polyanthemos (crested prickly poppy)
  • Argemone sanguinea
  • Argemone aenea (Golden Pricklypoppy)
  • Argemone munita (Flatbud Pricklypoppy)
  • Argemone platyceras
  • Argemone pleiacantha (Southwestern Prickly Poppy)
  • Argemone grandiflora
  • Argemone hispida (rough prickly poppy)
  • Argemone mexicana (Mexican prickly poppy)
  • Argemone intermedia

Further Information

  • Discover Life: Provides information on the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Argemone gracilenta.
  • NCBI Taxonomy: Species recognized by NCBI Taxonomy.