I saw a few of these in Arizona today. A member of the poppy family, it has flowers that grow to 3 inches across with numerous yellow stamens.
One researcher noted that the leaves of the white prickly poppy are so prickly that cattle will not even eat it during severe drought periods.
The seeds of the white prickly poppy are said to be an excellent source of food for quail and other birds because of their high oil content. Additionally, the oil from this plant was used as an alternative fine lubricant during World War II.
Records of its use date as far back as the Aztecs, when their priests would use the plant in their sacrifice rituals. The Comanche’s so revered the plant for its many uses that they made offerings to it during harvesting.
This particular plant was being visited by young katydids.
