Mexican Prickly Poppy is a glabrous, branching herb that grows throughout India. It is mainly found in wastelands and is also a crop weed. It is indigenous to Tropical America and belongs to the family Papaveraceae.
The plant is characterized by yellow juice and showy yellow flowers. Roots, leaves, seeds and yellow juice possess medicinal properties. The plant is considered to be a diuretic, anthelmintic, sedative and purgative. It is given in lepsory, skin-diseases, inflammations and bilious fevers. Shialkanta, Darudi, Brahmadandi, Balurakkisa and Ponnummattu are other Indian names.
