Argemone L.
Annual herbs with yellow latex. Lvs pinnatifid, spiny, usually glaucous, toothed. Fls solitary or in lax leafy cymes, with 2-3 bracts. Sepals 2-3, entire, free, falling as fl. opens, horned. Petals 4-6, crumpled in bud, usually white, cream or yellow. Stigma 4-lobed; style usually short, rarely almost 0. Capsule ovoid, spiny, opening from above by usually 4 valves. Seeds globose, with thin arillar crest.
c. 10 spp., mostly C. America. Naturalised sp. 1.
