Bharbhand / Broad-Leaved Sorel
Argemone mexicana
Also known as Prickly Poppy, Mexican Poppy, Yellow Mexican Poppy
- Habit
- Herb
- Found in India
- Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka & more
- Flowering
- Throughout the year
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Argemone mexicana
- Genus
- Argemone
- Family
- Papaveraceae
- Habit
- Herb
- Native to
- West Indies, Mexico
- Distribution
- Now naturalized in the tropics
- Found in India
- Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand
- Flowering & fruiting
- Throughout the year
- Conservation status
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Leaf characters
- Arrangement
- Alternate
Recorded for Bharbhand.
Flower & fruit characters
- Flower symmetry
- Variable
- Inflorescence
- Cyme
- Fruit
- Variable
Typical of the Papaveraceae family — flowering plants only; individual species can differ.
Local Names
- Hindi
- भरभांड Bharbhand, फिरंगी धतूरा Phirangi dhatura, पीला धतूरा Pila dhatura,भरभांड bharabhand
- Nepali
- काँडे Kaande, सत्यानासी Satyaanaasi, सुंगुरे काँडा sungure Kaandaa, सत्यानासी झार
- Bengali
- শিয়ালকাঁটা Siyalakanta, শিয়ালকাঁটা
- Tamil
- எலியோட்டி Eli-y-otti, குருக்கு Kurukku, குடிக்குச்சகுனி Kutikku-c-cakuni
- Telugu
- బలురక్కసి Balurakkasi, బ్రహ్మదండి Brahmadandi, బలురక్కసి
- Kannada
- ಅರಸಿನ ಉಮ್ಮತ್ತ Arasina ummatta, ದತ್ತೂರಿ ಗಿಡ Datturi gida, ಗೊಳಗೊಳಿಕೆ Golagolike
- Malayalam
- ബ്രഹ്മദന്തി Brahmadanti, എരുമക്കള്ളി Erumakkalli, എരുമക്കള്ളി
- Marathi
- कांटे धोत्रा Kante dhotra, फिरंगी धोतरा Phirangi dhotra, पिवळा धोत्रा Pivala dhotra, कांटेधोत्रा
- Odia
- କଣ୍ଟାକୁସୁମ
- Punjabi
- ਮੈਕਸੀਕਨ ਪੋਸਤ
- Assamese
- শিয়ালকাঁটা
Bharbhand in India
Satyanashi is the spiny yellow-flowered poppy of dry waste ground — भरभांड Bharbhand (Hindi), எலியோட்டி Eli-y-otti (Tamil), బలురక్కసి Balurakkasi (Telugu), ಅರಸಿನ ಉಮ್ಮತ್ತ Arasina ummatta (Kannada), ബ്രഹ്മദന്തി Brahmadanti (Malayalam), कांटे धोत्रा Kante dhotra (Marathi). Argemone mexicana is recorded across Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, common on roadsides and fallow fields.
Uses
It has attributed uses in folk medicine, but its main public-health importance is as a danger: its seeds resemble mustard seeds and its oil (argemone oil) is a notorious toxic adulterant of mustard oil that has caused poisoning outbreaks. It should be treated as a toxic weed, not consumed.
How to Identify Bharbhand
A prickly, blue-green herb with spiny, white-veined, thistle-like leaves that clasp the stem. It bears bright yellow poppy flowers and spiny capsules, and every part bleeds a bright yellow latex when broken — a clear identifying sign.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Broad-leaved Sorel called in different Indian languages?
- भरभांड Bharbhand (Hindi); எலியோட்டி Eli-y-otti (Tamil); బలురక్కసి Balurakkasi (Telugu); ಅರಸಿನ ಉಮ್ಮತ್ತ Arasina ummatta (Kannada); ബ്രഹ്മദന്തി Brahmadanti (Malayalam); कांटे धोत्रा Kante dhotra (Marathi); শিয়ালকাঁটা Siyalakanta (Bengali); କଣ୍ଟାକୁସୁମ (Odia); ਮੈਕਸੀਕਨ ਪੋਸਤ (Punjabi).
- Why is satyanashi dangerous?
- Its seeds resemble mustard seeds and argemone oil is a toxic adulterant of mustard oil linked to poisoning (epidemic dropsy), so the plant should never be consumed.
- How do you identify Argemone mexicana?
- Look for prickly white-veined thistle-like leaves, yellow poppy flowers, and bright yellow sap that oozes from any cut part.
Papaveraceae
Poppy Family
Bharbhand belongs to the Papaveraceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
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Common plant problems
All plant problem & care guides →More in Papaveraceae
View all Papaveraceae →Sources: GBIF — Argemone mexicana (India distribution & vernacular names) (CC BY 4.0) · iNaturalist — Argemone mexicana (regional names, India observations) (CC BY 4.0) · Wikipedia — Argemone mexicana (background/comprehension only) (CC BY-SA 4.0)