Status: Native
Synonyms:
None
Argemone pleiacantha has large white petals and many yellow stamens at the center of the flower.
The leaves and stems are armed with spines and are grayish. The leaves are pinnately lobed more than half way to the midrib.
The ovary is 4-6 carpellate, and it matures into a prickly 4-6 chambered capsule which splits open from above but only
for about 1/4 of its length. The seeds disperse easily from the capsule if it is inverted.
The pattern of ridges on the seed resembles netting or the pattern on a soccer ball.
Argemone is a basal Eudicot in the Ranunculales, a clade that also includes the Berberidaceae. One of the main alkaloids in
Argemone pleiacantha is Berberine, also found in and named after the genus Berberis. Berberine gives the latex of Argemone pleiacantha
its characteristic yellow color. Many of the alkaloid constituents of Argemone species are poisonous.
Latex is a fluid present in some plants (usually eudicots) in special conducting tubes called "laticifers". Latex
can include many constituent chemicals. Some of these are derived from terpenes (based on isoprene) such as rubber itself in Hevea brasiliensis, or Berberine which is an alkaloid and therefore derived from an amino acid. Latex functions as a defense again herbivory. In the case of Argemone pleiacantha, yellow latex containing poisonous alkaloids complements the nasty prickles on the plant to provide very effective protection.
The location of laticifers (latex containing channels) varies in different plant species. In Euphorbia serpyllifolia the laticifers are present throughout most of the stem. In Argemone pleiacantha the laticifers are highly localized and mixed in with the phloem of the vascular bundles.
Argemone pleiacantha, photo Russ Kleinman, Silver City, May 19, 2007
Argemone pleiacantha, full view, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, June 4, 2005
Argemone pleiacantha, looking down from above on prickly capsules which open from the apex, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., CBar Ranch Road, December 20, 2008
Argemone pleiacantha, 5x macro of "soccer ball" seeds, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., CBar Ranch Road, December 20, 2008
Argemone pleiacantha, partial floral dissection showing superior ovary, photo Russ Kleinman, Silver City, September 9, 2011
Argemone pleiacantha, growth habit and leaves, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, August 22, 2012
Argemone pleiacantha, yellow sap, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, August 22, 2012
Argemone pleiacantha, cross section of stem, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, July 12, 2022
Argemone pleiacantha, cross section of stem showing yellow latex associated with phloem, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, July 12, 2022
Argemone pleiacantha, cross section of stem showing yellow latex associated with phloem, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, July 12, 2022
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