Flower profile
Flatbud prickly poppy
Argemone munita
Flatbud prickly poppy is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Nevada it's most often seen in bloom in April–August.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Nevada
Quick look
Argemone munita is a species of prickly poppy known by the common names flatbud prickly poppy and chicalote. "Munita" means "armed", in reference to the many long prickles. This flower is native to California, where it is widespread throughout the western part of the state and its eastern deserts, on slopes to 10,000 feet, and along roadsides. Its range also extends into Baja California, Arizona, and Nevada.
- It belongs to the Papaveraceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual, perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 6 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Nevada. NatureServe
- In Nevada, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–August. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 605 research-grade sightings of it in Nevada, ranking #65 among the 110 flowers on our Nevada list. iNaturalist
Flatbud prickly poppy gift ideas
Handmade flatbud prickly poppy gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Flatbud prickly poppy art print
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Flatbud prickly poppy greeting card
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Flatbud prickly poppy mug
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Flatbud prickly poppy earrings
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Flatbud prickly poppy embroidery pattern
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Flatbud prickly poppy sticker
When does it bloom?
In Nevada, most flowering sightings come in April–August.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Nevada
- Not listed Not on Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Nevada. NAC 527.010
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: ID (S1), OR (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records flatbud prickly poppy in 6 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah.
Nevada counties with USDA records: Carson City, Churchill, Clark, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, White Pine.
More Nevada flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile ARMU.
- iNaturalist, Argemone munita: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Argemone munita (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Nevada: Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010).
- Nevada: Nevada noxious weeds (NAC 555.010).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Argemone munita (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
- Photo: Mark Pollock via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.