Argemone munita

Argemone munita is a species of prickly poppy known by the common names flatbud prickly poppy and chicalote. "Munita" means "armed", in reference to the many long prickles.[1] This flower is native to California, where it is widespread throughout the western part of the state and its eastern deserts, on slopes to 10,000 feet, and along roadsides.[1] Its range also extends into Baja California, Arizona, and Nevada.[2]

Argemone munita
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Papaveraceae
Genus: Argemone
Species:
A. munita
Binomial name
Argemone munita
Dur. & Hilg.

This poppy bears its flowers on erect, spiny stems which can exceed a meter in height. The sap is yellow.[3] The blue-green or mint-green, lobed leaves are also very prickly. The white poppy blooms usually have six crinkly petals, each up to 4 centimeters long, and three sepals.[3] The center of the flower is surrounded by a dense ring of up to 250 small yellow or orange stamens bearing the pollen.[1] The flowers are often compared to sunny-side-up eggs, with the dark pistil in the center as a dot of pepper.[1][2] The fruits are spiny white capsules 3 to 5 centimeters long, each containing many small seeds. The leaves and seeds contain alkaloids which are probably toxic.[3]

  • crinkly white petals
  • many stamens
  • yellow sap, on capsule
  • plant backlit, prickly leaves
  • return bloom after fire

References
  1. Blackwell, Laird R (2002). Wildflowers of the Eastern Sierra and adjoining Mojave Desert and Great Basin. ISBN 1-55105-281-4.
  2. Horn, Elizabeth L (1998). Sierra Nevada Wildflowers. ISBN 0-87842-388-5.
  3. Weeden, Norman F (1996). A Sierra Nevada Flora (4 ed.). ISBN 0-89997-204-7.
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