''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. This flower is native to

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

, where it is widespread throughout the western part of the state and its eastern deserts, on slopes to 10,000 feet, and along roadsides. Its range also extends into

Baja California Baja California, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California, is a state in Mexico. It is the northwesternmost of the 32 federal entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1952, the area was known as the North Territory of B ...

, Arizona, and Nevada. This poppy bears its flowers on erect, spiny stems which can exceed a meter in height. The sap is yellow. 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. The center of the flower is surrounded by a dense ring of up to 250 small yellow or orange

stamen The stamen (: stamina or stamens) is a part consisting of the male reproductive organs of a flower. Collectively, the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filament ...

s bearing the pollen. The flowers are often compared to sunny-side-up eggs, with the dark pistil in the center as a dot of pepper. 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. File:White poppy Argemone munita close.jpg, crinkly white petals File:Argemone munita 5.jpg, many stamens File:Argemone munita 6.jpg, yellow sap, on capsule File:Prickly poppy Argemone munita plant backlit.jpg, plant backlit, prickly leaves File:Prickly poppy returns after fire.jpg, return bloom after fire

References

External links

Jepson Manual TreatmentPhoto gallery (CalPhoto)
{{Taxonbar, from=Q4789237 Flora of California Flora of Baja California munita Flora without expected TNC conservation status