Mexican Prickly Poppy

The Mexican Poppy, or Argemone mexicana, is a white-yellow flowering plant, called "food of the dead" by the ancient Aztecs and sacred to their rain-god Tlaloc. It was introduced from Mexico long ago to China and is now growing wild in Xishuangbanna. It's now widely naturalized in the United States, India and Ethiopia.

The seed-pods secrete a pale-yellow latex substance when cut open. This argemone resin contains berberine, protopine and argemonine. The leaves and flowers are used to make a tea that produces a mild sedating effect. The flowers and leaves can also be heated in a vaporizer, preferably between 150°C and 175°C (302°F to 347°F).