Bermuda thistle (Argemone mexicana, Sp. Pl.: 508 (1753))

Family: Papaveraceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 508 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Argemone

Vegetable: False

Observations: C. Mexico to Honduras

Description

The Bermuda thistle, scientifically known as Argemone mexicana, belongs to the Papaveraceae family. This intriguing plant, first documented in 1753, has a significant presence spanning from Central Mexico to Honduras.

Argemone mexicana is easily recognizable due to its unique and striking appearance. It features prickly stems and leaves that are often bluish-green in color, complemented by bright yellow flowers which can sometimes have a touch of orange. The plant exudes a yellow latex when cut, which has been historically noted for its potential medicinal properties.

The Bermuda thistle thrives in various environmental conditions but is commonly found in disturbed sites such as roadsides and fields. Its ability to adapt to different soils and climates has allowed it to become quite widespread within its native range.

Despite its common name, the Bermuda thistle is not related to true thistles but bears resemblance due to its thorny nature. It is important to approach this plant with caution, as its latex can be irritating to the skin and potentially toxic if ingested.

Beyond its physical attributes, Argemone mexicana holds a place in traditional medicine, particularly in regions where it is indigenous. It has been used in various folk remedies to treat ailments ranging from skin infections to respiratory issues. However, contemporary use should be approached carefully due to the risks associated with its toxic components.

Ecologically, the Bermuda thistle can play a role in stabilizing soil and providing food for certain insects, though it can also become invasive and compete with native vegetation. Its resilience and distinct presence make it a fascinating plant to study, both for its ecological impact and its place in traditional medicinal practices.

In summary, the Bermuda thistle is a remarkable member of the Papaveraceae family, noted for its distinctive look and broad range within Central America. Whether admired for its beauty, studied for its medicinal potential, or managed for its invasiveness, Argemone mexicana is a notable example of botanical adaptation and resilience.

Common Names

Heb: argemone mexicae
Fra: argémone, argémone du mexique, chardon béni, chardon du pays, pavot épineux
Eng: bermuda thistle, mexican poppy, mexican prickly poppy, mexican prickly-poppy, mexican pricklypoppy, mexican thistle, mexican-poppy, prickly-poppy, yellow pricklypoppy, yellow thistle, yellow-flower mexican-poppy, thistle, thorn poppy, yellow prickly-poppy, prickly poppy
Spa: cardo santo, adormidera espinosa, amapolas del campo, chicalote
Dan: mexicansk pigvalmue
Deu: mexikanischer stachelmohn, stachelmohn, gemeiner stachelmohn
Por: cardo-santo, falso-cardo, figo-do-inferno, papoila-de-espinho, papoila-de-méxico, papoila-mexicana, papoula-de-espinho
Ita: fico infernale, papavero del messico
Afr: geelblom-bloudissel
Swe: gul taggvallmo, taggvallmo
Cym: pabi mecsico, pabïau mecsico
En: Bermuda thistle, Mexican-poppy, Mexican prickly-poppy, Mexican thistle, Yellow thistle, Yellow-flower Mexican-poppy, Prickly-poppy, Mexican pricklypoppy, Binneguy Thistle, Mexican poppy, Yellow Poppy, Prickly poppy, Yellow pricklypoppy, Mexican prickly poppy, Thistle, Thorn poppy, Yellow prickly-poppy, Yellow mexican poppy
Af: Geelblom-bloudissel
Ar: أرجمون مكسيكي, Tashmezg
As: শিয়ালকাঁটা
Bm: Sayijirinin
Bn: শিয়ালকাঁটা
Zh: Ji ying su, 蓟罂粟, 薊罌粟
Cs: Pleskanka mexická
Da: Mexicansk pigvalmue
Nl: Stekelpapaver
Et: Mehhiko ogamagun
Fi: Keltapiikkiunikko
Fr: Argémone du Mexique, Chardon du pays, Pavot épineux, Chardon béni, Chardon marbré, Argémone mexicaine, Argémone, Chardon, Pavot cornu, Pavot épineux du Mexique
De: Stachelmohn, Gemeiner Stachelmohn, Mexikanischer Stachelmohn
Ht: Zèb chadwon
He: Argemone mexicae, ארגמון מכסיקאי
Hi: सत्यानाशी
Id: Druju
It: Fico infernale, Papavero del Messico
Jv: Druju
Ml: എരുമക്കള്ളി
Mr: कांटेधोत्रा
Ne: सत्यानासी झार
Or: କଣ୍ଟାକୁସୁମ
Pa: ਮੈਕਸੀਕਨ ਪੋਸਤ
Fa: شقایق مکزیکی
Pl: Argemon meksykański
Pt: Papoila-mexicana, Cardo-santo, Falso-cardo, Figo-do-inferno, Papoila-de-espinho, Papoila-de-méxico, Papoula-de-espinho, Cardo santo
Pt-br: Papoula-de-espinho, Papoula-do-México
Qu: Kharwinchu
Es: Amapolas del campo, Adormidera espinosa, Cardo santo, Chicalote, Amapola espinosa
Sw: Mbaruti
Sv: Gul taggvallmo, Taggvallmo
Zh-tw: 薊罌粟
Ta: பிரம்மத் தண்டு
Te: బలురక్కసి
Th: ฝิ่นหนาม
Cy: Pabi Mecsico, Pabïau Mecsico

Synonyms

• Argemone mucronata (Dum.Cours. ex Steud.)
• Argemone spinosa (Moench)
• Argemone mexicana var. anacanthoidea (Fedde)
• Argemone leiocarpa (Greene)
• Argemone mexicana f. leiocarpa ((Greene) Ownbey)
• Echtrus mexicanus ((L.) Nieuwl.)
• Argemone mexicana subvar. inermis (Fedde)
• Argemone alba (Raf.)
• Argemone mexicana var. parviflora (Kuntze)
• Argemone alba var. leiocarpa (Fedde)
• Papaver mexicanum ((L.) E.H.L.Krause)
• Argemone mexicana var. typica (Prain)
• Argemone leiocarpa var. ochroleucoides (Fedde)
• Argemone leiocarpa var. mexicanoides (Fedde)
• Argemone sexvalvis (Stokes)
• Argemone versicolor (Salisb.)
• Echtrus trivialis (Lour.)
• Argemone mexicana var. lutea (Kuntze)

Distribution

• Belize (native)
• El Salvador (native)
• Guatemala (native)
• Haiti (native)
• Honduras (native)
• Mexico Central (native)
• Mexico Southeast (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• Nicaragua (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Angola (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Aruba (introduced)
• Ascension (introduced)
• Assam (introduced)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Benin (introduced)
• Bermuda (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• Botswana (introduced)
• Brazil Northeast (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• Brazil Southeast (introduced)
• Brazil West-Central (introduced)
• Burkina (introduced)
• Burundi (introduced)
• Cameroon (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Cape Verde (introduced)
• Cayman Is. (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Comoros (introduced)
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• Uruguay (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Venezuelan Antilles (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• West Himalaya (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)
• Yemen (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)
• Zimbabwe (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Feb 24, 2019 by Alexandra De Navarre (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 20, 2017 by christiane Fazer (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 2, 2022 by Daniel schefer (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 5, 2018 by Jishan Mallick (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 17, 2017 by Nawed Razzaque (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken May 6, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Sénégal ENGOUEMENT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 28, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain PIRY (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 4, 2022 by Hugo Xavier Brito (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 30, 2014 by Thomas Delhotal (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 2, 2022 by Daniel schefer (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Nov 28, 2021 by nicholas muturi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 21, 2018 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 6, 2021 by José María Fernández López (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 12, 2018 by jm (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 20, 2017 by christiane Fazer (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Fruit

Taken Jun 30, 2014 by Thomas Delhotal (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 14, 2022 by Swastik Brahma Hota (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 8, 2019 by Prakash Rudraraju (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 21, 2020 by Alexander Newman (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 20, 2007 by Tela Botanica − Geneviève Botti (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Feb 23, 2016 by EOL − Zabdiel Peralta (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jun 30, 2021 by Jesus José Onaldo de Jesus (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 9, 2021 by Nelson D. Mahlangu (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 26, 2019 by Pam Pamela McIntyre-Smith (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 17, 2022 by José María Fernández López (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken May 7, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Sénégal ENGOUEMENT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2000 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Jun 10, 2015 by Tela Botanica − shoroke Ney (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 20, 2007 by Tela Botanica − Geneviève Botti (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 21, 2021 by Candy Lazaro (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2888485)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:18816-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Argemone mexicana L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 7.0

Light: 9

Atmospheric humidity: 1

Soil nutriments: 7