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Plant Profile

Sacramento Prickly-poppy (Argemone pleiacantha ssp. pinnatisecta)

The common name of this species, the Sacramento prickly poppy, speaks for itself. Photo Credit: Joyce Maschinski

Global Rank: T2 - Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Endangered
Family: Papaveraceae
State: NM
Nature Serve ID: 157783
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 03/05/1993

Description:

The Sacramento prickle-poppy produces attractive, grapefruit-sized white flowers while spiny leaves and fruits protect the plant from many predators. This species is found along drainages and roadsides near the Sacramento Mountains in New Mexico. It is a robust, herbaceous perennial, with multiple branching stems. It grows to about 0.5-1.5 m in height and has blue-green leaves with veins that are armored with stout yellow spines. It flowers from May to August. Another subspecies, Argemone pleiacantha ssp. pleiacantha, is considered common. This subspecies has leaves that are less deeply divided, capsule spines that are more dense, and branched at the base, and a yellow-orange latex in its stem. (New Mexico Rare Plant Technical Council 1999)

Where is Sacramento Prickly-poppy (Argemone pleiacantha ssp. pinnatisecta) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Loose, gravelly soils in open disturbed sites; canyon bottoms and slopes, and occasionally along roadsides; found at 1,300-2,200 m (4,200-7,100 ft) in elevation. (New Mexico Rare Plant Technical Council 1999)

Distribution:

In and around Otero County in New Mexico, populations are found in 10 canyons on the western slope of the Sacramento Mountains from Fresnal Canyon on the north to Escondido Canyon on the south. (New M

States & Provinces:

Sacramento Prickly-poppy can be found in New Mexico

Which CPC Partners conserve Sacramento Prickly-poppy (Argemone pleiacantha ssp. pinnatisecta)?

The Arboretum at Flagstaff

Conservation Actions

08/26/2020

Continued seed collection and banking to ensure a genetically representative sample. Seeds of this species are held by Desert Botanical Garden and The Arboretum at Flagstaff.

08/19/2020

Continued seed collection and banking to ensure a genetically representative sample. Seeds of this species are held by Desert Botanical Garden and The Arboretum at Flagstaff.

08/19/2020

Continued seed collection and banking to ensure a genetically representative sample. Seeds of this species are held by Desert Botanical Garden and The Arboretum at Flagstaff.

08/19/2020

Continued seed collection and banking to ensure a genetically representative sample. Seeds of this species are held by Desert Botanical Garden and The Arboretum at Flagstaff.

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Endemic to 10 canyons on the western slope of the Sacramento Mountains in Otero County, central-southern New Mexico. Major threats include surface-disturbing activities from water pipeline projects, road construction and maintenance, flash floods, trampling and grazing from livestock, and off-road vehicles.

Joyce Maschinski, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Threats include: Road construction and maintenance Flash floods Trampling and grazing from livestock Off-road vehicles (NatureServe 2001) Activities like highway maintenance or pipeline construction are threats because they could destroy some pl

Joyce Maschinski, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

In the late 1980s there were approximately 1,300 known individuals, but the number has likely declined since then. (New Mexico Rare Plant Technical Council 1999)

Joyce Maschinski, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Seeds of this species are held by Desert Botanical Garden and The Arboretum at Flagstaff.

Joyce Maschinski, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

None known.

Joyce Maschinski, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Studies into the basic biology of the species, as well as habitat requirements, would be beneficial.

Joyce Maschinski, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Continued seed collection and banking to ensure a genetically representative sample.