What is "argemone mexicana"

Poppy \Pop"py\, n.; pl. Poppies. [OE. popy, AS. popig, L. papaver.] (Bot.) Any plant or species of the genus Papaver, herbs with showy polypetalous flowers and a milky juice. From one species ( Papaver somniferum) opium is obtained, though all the species contain it to some extent; also, a flower of the plant. See Illust. of Capsule.

California poppy (Bot.), any yellow-flowered plant of the genus Eschscholtzia.

Corn poppy. See under Corn.

Horn poppy, or Horned poppy. See under Horn.

Poppy bee (Zo["o]l.), a leaf-cutting bee ( Anthocopa papaveris) which uses pieces cut from poppy petals for the lining of its cells; -- called also upholsterer bee.

Prickly poppy (Bot.), Argemone Mexicana, a yellow-flowered plant of the Poppy family, but as prickly as a thistle.

Poppy seed, the seed the opium poppy ( Papaver somniferum).

Spatling poppy (Bot.), a species of Silene ( Silene inflata). See Catchfly.

Mexican \Mex"i*can\, prop. a. Of or pertaining to Mexico or its people. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Mexico.

Mexican poppy prop. n. (Bot.), a tropical American herb of the Poppy family ( Argemone Mexicana) with much the look of a thistle, but having large yellow or white blossoms.

Mexican tea prop. n. (Bot.), an aromatic kind of pigweed from tropical America ( Chenopodium ambrosioides).

Argemone mexicana (Mexican poppy, Mexican prickly poppy, flowering thistle, cardo or cardosanto) is a species of poppy found in Mexico and now widely naturalized in many parts of the world. An extremely hardy pioneer plant, it is tolerant of drought and poor soil, often being the only cover on new road cuttings or verges. It has bright yellow latex, and though poisonous to grazing animals, is rarely eaten, but has been used medicinally by many people including those in its native area, the Natives of the western US and parts of Mexico.