1. Argemone albiflora Hornem. (white prickly poppy)
Pl. 475 c–e; Map
2171
Stems
40–100(–150) cm long, sparsely to moderately prickly. Leaf blades 4–25 cm long,
the surfaces glabrous or more commonly sparsely prickly along the main veins,
glaucous, lacking pale mottling along the veins. Flowers closely or distantly
subtended by the bracts. Buds 12–18 mm long, broadly ellipsoid to nearly
globose, the horns 3–6(–10) mm long, unarmed below the tip or sparsely prickly.
Petals 20–40 mm long, white (occasionally pinkish- or lavender-tinged
elsewhere). Stamens 100–250. Fruits 10–17 mm long, narrowly ellipsoid to
oblong-ellipsoid or oblong in outline, the surface moderately prickly. 2n=28.
May–September.
Introduced,
uncommon and widely scattered in the southern half of the state (native of the
southeastern U.S., introduced in the midwestern and northeastern states).
Railroads, roadsides, and open, often sandy, disturbed areas.
Ownbey (1958)
recognized two subspecies within A. albiflora that can be difficult to
distinguish.