White-flower mexican-poppy
StarArgemone ochroleuca
Synonyms: Argemone mexicana var. alba, Argemone mexicana var. ochroleuca, Argemone mexicana subsp. ochroleuca, Argemone intermedia, Argemone intermedia var. typica, Argemone stenopetala, Argemone intermedia var. stenopetala, Argemone barclayana, Argemone ochroleuca var. stenopetala, Argemone ochroleuca subsp. stenopetala, Argemone sulphurea
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In Mexican folk medicine, Argemone ochroleuca (chicalote) has been employed topically for skin ulcers and inflammation, and infusions of the flowers have been used as a mild sedative (Argueta Villamar et al., Atlas de las Plantas de la Medicina Tradicional Mexicana, 1994). The latex has been applied to warts and cold sores. All preparations carry significant risk: contamination of cooking oils with Argemone seed has caused epidemic dropsy (sanguinarine toxicity).
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Botanical Description
Argemone ochroleuca, the white-flower Mexican-poppy, is an erect annual or short-lived perennial of the Papaveraceae, native to Mexico and widely naturalized as a weed across the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Plants reach 30–100 cm with glaucous, prickly, much-branched stems exuding pale-yellow latex when cut. Leaves are alternate, sessile, deeply pinnately lobed, 5–20 cm long, glaucous-blue with white veins and stout spines along midrib, margins, and veins. Solitary flowers 4–7 cm across are borne at branch tips; sepals 3, prickly with horned tips; petals 6, obovate, cream to pale yellow. Stamens are numerous with yellow anthers; the ovary is ellipsoid, densely spiny, maturing into a prickly capsule 2.5–4 cm long that splits along 4–6 valves to release many tiny, pitted, dark-brown seeds. Flowering occurs much of the year in warm climates. All parts contain toxic isoquinoline alkaloids (berberine, protopine, sanguinarine).
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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