Ascension : Conservation Weekly - Mexican Poppy, Mexican Thistle Argemone mexicana
Submitted by The Islander (Conservation Office) 30.10.2008 (Article Archived on 13.11.2008)
This species originated in Mexico and has become something of a troublesome, though attractive, weed in many tropical parts of the world.
This species originated in Mexico and has become something of a troublesome, though attractive, weed in many tropical parts of the world. The plant is erect with prickly, grey –green, thistle-like leaves which have conspicuous white veins. These spiny leaves and the bitter-tasting latex protect the plant from grazing sheep. The flowers are yellow and resemble poppies. The fruit is the familiar dry capsule of a poppy, which splits open to release the tiny seeds. In its native Mexico oil from the seeds is used in the manufacture of soap, and for lamps.
A variety with a paler flower exists in some areas, for example on the lower slopes of Green Mountain towards the NE Bay Road.
The plant was recorded by some of the early visitors to the island in the 1820s and it is now naturalised. It grows mainly in the dry lower regions but appears to be on the increase at the higher levels too, for example on the mountain paths (Invalids, Convalescents, and Middleton’s) where it is often found growing with Kalanchoe pinnata. (Information used from the book, Flowering Plants by Wendy Fairhurst)
This is one of the invasive species that has now become a problem on our turtle nesting beaches. Our Annual Beach Clean up this year will be on Saturday 1st November, we are hoping to clear as much of this plant as possible,
For further information on the Beach Clean Up, please contact the Conservation Office on Tel. 6359.
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