Argemone mexicana L., Papaveraceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results: 

Pacific (high risk, score: 22 (Go to the risk assessment)).
Australia (reject, score: 18 (Go to the risk assessment)).

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: ji ying su

English: Bermuda thistle, Mexican poppy, Mexican prickly-poppy, Mexican thistle, goatweed, prickly poppy, yellow prickly poppy, yellow thistle, yellow-flower Mexican-poppy

French: argémone Mexicaine, argémone du Mexique, chardon, chardon béni, chardon du pays, herbe à femme, pavot épineux

Japanese: azamigeshi

Spanish: adormidera espinosa, amapolas del campo, amapolo pinchuda, cardo amarillo, cardo blanco, cardo santo, chicalote

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Coarse erect herbs with milk sap and prickly stems and leaves; leaves somewhat irregularly pinnatilobed and serrate, glaucous, the edges crisped-undulate, each tooth spinose; flowers sessile, yellow, showy, up to 6 cm broad."  (Stone, 1970)"Annual herbs; stems 2.5-10 dm long, branched, sparsely to moderately covered with prickles.  Leaves glaucous, oblong-oblanceolate, pinnately lobed, 1/2-3/4 to midrib, both surfaces sparsely covered with prickles along veins, margins somewhat sinuate-dentate, the teeth tipped with a prickle, sessile, upper ones usually somewhat clasping the stem.  Buds subglobose, 1.2-1.6 cm long, sparsely prickly; sepal horns terete, 5-10 mm long; petals bright yellow, 1.7-3 cm long; stamens 30-50; ovary 4-6-carpellate.  Capsules oblong to broadly ellipsoid, 3-4.2 cm long, each valve with 9-15 prickles, the longest one 7-10 mm long.  Seeds numerous, 1.2-1.5 mm in diameter"  (Wagner et al, 1999; pp. 1005-1006).

Habitat/ecology:  "Adapted to a very wide range of habitats.  In Mauritius it is most plentiful in the subhumid regions, whereas in Puerto Rico it is most prevalent in the semiarid northern regions.  Though often seen at sea level, it is a weed at an elevation of 2,900 m in Tanzania.  It is found on many soil types, on cultivated ground, in pastures, in fence rows, on stony ridges, along roads, in waste places, and on bare soil.  It seems to prefer moist sites, growing freely along rivers in Australia and following sandy riverbeds in southern Africa" (Holm et al., 1977; p. 176).

In Hawai‘i, "naturalized in dry, disturbed habitats" (Wagner et al, 1999; pp. 1005-1006).  In Fiji, "occasionally naturalized as a weed in sandy soil and in cane fields near sea level" (Smith, 1981; p. 154). In New Caledonia, "mauvaise herbe largement répandue et parfois abondante" (MacKee, 1994; p. 112).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  The Americas, exact native range obscure. Cultivated and naturalized elsewhere (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 81)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 154) Vouchers cited: DA 9625, DA 10318, DA 11158, DA 11177
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced cultivated	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 286) Voucher cited: Stone 4160 (GUAM) Naturalized
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 81)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1005)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1005)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wysong, Michael/Hughes, Guy/Wood, K. R. (2007) (p. 6) Voucher cited: B. Barnett s.n. (BISH 718652)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1005)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Îles Loyauté (Loyalty Islands)	introduced invasive	Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Lifou	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (pp. 112-113) Vouchers cited: Sarasin 731 (Z), MacKee 28298
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Walpole	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (pp. 112-113) Voucher cited: Cherrier in MacKee 44042
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced invasive	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 382) Mauvaise herbe largement répandue et parfois abondante.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (pp. 112-113) Vouchers cited: Pennel 149, Pennel 370, Däniker 140 (Z), MacDaniels 2026, MacKee 5681, MacKee 11872, MacKee 35899; var. ochroleuca (Sweet) Lindl., vouchers cited: MacKee 15890, MacKee 40853
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced invasive	Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (pp. 112-113) Voucher cited: Baumann 13565
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 144) See comments below. Voucher cited: CHR 168709
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Palau Islands (main island group)		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 88)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Hafliger, Toni J./Wolf, Matthias (1988) (p. 78)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced invasive	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (pp. 206-207) In and about towns, a weed in waste places, widely distributed.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Western Samoa Islands	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 154)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 88)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	New South Wales	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (pp. 178-179)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (pp. 178-179)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	El Salvador (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	El Salvador (Republic of)		Hafliger, Toni J./Wolf, Matthias (1988) (p. 80)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced invasive cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) "Naturalized along coasts, introduced in courtyards".
China China	Hong Kong	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 56) Ornamental.
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Japan Japan	Japan		Hafliger, Toni J./Wolf, Matthias (1988) (p. 80)
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 183)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Chile (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (pp. 178-179)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia		Hafliger, Toni J./Wolf, Matthias (1988) (p. 80)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	introduced invasive	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)		Hafliger, Toni J./Wolf, Matthias (1988) (p. 80)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Comoros Comoro Islands	Comoro Islands	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island		Hafliger, Toni J./Wolf, Matthias (1988) (p. 80)
Maldives Maldive Islands	Malè Atoll		Fosberg, F. R. (1957) (p. 19)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (pp. 178-179)
French Territory of Mayotte Mayotte Islands	Mayotte Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Comité français de l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature en France (2013) naturalisée, potentiellement envahissant
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Agalega Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Stoddart, D. R. (1983) (p. 130)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Coetivy Island		Robertson, S. A./Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 152) Voucher cited: Robertson 3140 (K)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Comments:  Reported present by Sykes, 1970, p. 144, and proposed for eradication at that time. Current status not known although Whistler (1988) reports "rare on Niue, possibly now eradicated, not seen by the author".

Control:  If you know of control methods for Argemone mexicana, please let us know.