Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Papaveraceae
Subfamily: Papaveroideae
Tribe: Papavereae
Genus: Argemone
Hindi: Shialkanta, Satyanashi
Gujrati: Darudi
Danarese: Balurakkisa, Datturi, Pirangi, datturi
Marathi: Daruri, Firangi-kote-pavola, dhotara.
Sanskrit: Brahmadandi, Pitopushpa, Srigalkanta, Svarnakshiri.
Malyalam: Ponnummattu, Kantankattiri
Tamil: Kutiyotti, Ponnummuttai
Telugu: Brahmadandicettu
Mexcian prickly poppy, Satyanashi (Hindi), Kudiyotti (Tamil), Ponnummattu (Malayalam), BaraShil-Kantal (Bengali), Firangi dhotra (Marathi), Datturigidda (Kannada), Kshirini (Sanskrit), Brahmadandi (Telugu), Phirangi dhutro (Konkani)
Synonyms: Argemone leiocarpa • Argemone mucronata • Argemone ochroleuca • Argemone spinosa • Argemone sulphurea • Argemone versicolor • Ectrus mexicanus • Papaver spinosum
Argemone is a genus of flowering plants in the family Papaveraceae. It contains 30 to 32 species, commonly known as prickly poppies,that are native to the Americas and Hawaii. The generic name originated from Greek and was applied by Dioscorides to a poppy-like plant used to treat cataracts.
The seeds contain 22–36% of a pale yellow non-edible oil, called argemone oil or katkar oil, which contains the toxic alkaloids sanguinarine and dihydrosanguinarine. Four quaternary isoquinoline alkaloids, dehydrocorydalmine, jatrorrhizine, columbamine, and oxyberberine, have been isolated from the whole plant of Argemone mexicana.
The seeds resemble the seeds of Brassica nigra (mustard). As a result, mustard can be adulterated by argemone seeds, rendering it poisonous. Several significant instances of katkar poisoning have been reported in India, Fiji, South Africa and other countries. The last major outbreak in India occurred in 1998. 1% adulteration of mustard oil by argemone oil has been shown to cause clinical disease.
The Seri of Sonora, Mexico use the entire plant both fresh and dried. An infusion is made to relieve kidney pain, to help expel a torn placenta, and in general to help cleanse the body after parturition.
When the Spanish arrived in Sonora they added this plant to their pharmacopia and called it cardosanto, which should not be mistranslated to blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus). Use in Hispanic cultures includes as a sedative and analgesiac tea, including for use to help alleviate migrane headaches. The seeds are taken as a laxative.
The seed-pods secrete a pale-yellow latex substance when cut open. This argemone resin contains berberine and protopine, and is used medicinally as a sedative.
Argemone mexicana is used by traditional healers in Mali to treat malaria.
Katkar oil poisoning causes epidemic dropsy, with symptoms including extreme swelling, particularly of the legs.
It is a prickly, glabrous, branching herb with yellow juice and showy yellow flowers, The Sanskrit name svarnakshiri is given because of the yellow juice (Svarna – Gold; Kshiri – Juice ). The height of this plant varies between 0.3 to 0.12 meters, Leaves are thistlelike. Stem clasping, Oblong, sinuately pinnatifid, spinous and viens are white. Flowers are terminal, yellow and of 2.5–5.0 cm diameter. Fruits are capsule. Prickly and oblong ovoid. Seeds numerous, globose, netted and brownish black. Flowering time is all round the year in Indian conditions. The plants is toxic to animals and cattle avoid grazing this plant. Harmful allelopathic effects of Argemone mexicana on germination and seedling vigour of wheat, mustard, fenugreek, sorghum, fingermillet, tomato, cucumber etc. (important crops in India ) have been reported. The allelochemicals cinnamic and benzoic acid are identified as harmful chemicals responsible for inhibition of germination and seedling vigor.

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xerophyte or xerophytic organism (xero meaning dry, phyte meaning plant) is a plant which is able to survive in an environment with little available water or moisture, such as a desert. Xerophytic plants may have adaptations of their shape and form (morphology) or physiology that reduce their water loss or store water during periods of dryness. Plants with such morphological adaptations are called xeromorphic.

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Xerophytic plants can survive in areas in which a typical (mesophytic) plant would take up water from the soil and evaporate it faster than the rate at which water is replaced in the soil, such as by rainfall, leading to the subsequent wilting of the typical mesophytic plant. Taking up water from the soil and evaporating it is called evapotranspiration. As contrasted with mesophytic plants, xerophytic plants may absorb water from their own storage, change their allocation of water to where new tissues are grown, lose less water to the atmosphere and so convert a greater proportion of water in the soil to growth, or have other adaptations to enable them to survive.

Plants like the cactus (plural – “cacti”, family – Cactaceae) and other succulents are typically found in deserts where low rainfall amounts are the norm. But xerophytes, such as the bromeliads that can survive both expremely wet and extremely dry peroids, can also be found in seasonally moist habitats such as tropical forests, exploiting niches where water supplies are limited or too intermittent for mesophytic plants.
cactus (plural: cacti, cactuses or cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments.In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines. Many species are used for ornamental plants, and some are also grown for fodder, forage, fruits, cochineal, and other uses.

Cacti come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. The tallest is Pachycereus pringlei, with a maximum recorded height of 19.2 m and the smallest is Blossfeldia liliputiana, only about 1 cm in diameter at maturity.Cactus flowers are large, and like the spines arise from distinctive features called areoles.

The cactus family is native to the Americas, where their range extends from Patagonia to southern Canada, but they are densest and most diverse in the regions of northern Mexico and the southern tropics of Argentina and Bolivia. Rhipsalis baccifera is the one exception; it is native to both the Americas and the Old World, where it is found in tropical Africa, Madagascar and Sri Lanka. It is thought to have colonized the Old World within the last few thousand years, probably by being carried as seeds in the digestive tracts of migratory birds. Many other species have become naturalized outside the Americas after having been introduced by people, especially in Australia, Hawaii, and the Mediterranean region. Cacti inhabit diverse regions, from coastal plains to high mountain areas.

Cacti, cultivated by people worldwide, are a familiar sight as potted plants, houseplants or in ornamental gardens in warmer climates. They often form part of xeriphytic (dry) gardens in arid regions, or raised rockeries. Some countries, such as Australia, have water restrictions in many cities, so drought-resistant plants are increasing in popularity. Numerous species have entered widespread cultivation, including members of Echinopsis, Mammillaria and Cereus among others.

Cacti can be used for fencing material where there is a lack of either natural resources or financial means to construct a permanent fence. This is often seen in arid and warm climates, such as the Maasai Mara in Kenya. This is known as a cactus fence. Cactus fences are often used by homeowners and landscape architects for home security purposes. The sharp thorns of the cactus deter unauthorized persons from entering private properties, and may prevent break-ins if planted under windows and near drainpipes.

Many species of cacti have commercial uses; some cacti bear edible fruit, such as the prickly pear and Hylocereus, which produces dragon fruit or pitaya. The edible cactus, or nopal, industry in Mexico is worth $150 million each year and approximately 10,000 farmers cultivate the plant.Opuntia are also used as host plants for cochineal bugs in the cochineal dye industry in Central America. Particularly in South America dead pillar cacti can yield valuable wood for construction. Some cacti are also of pharmaceutical significance.

Some species have become endangered in the wild because of overharvesting for sale as an ornamental plant. All cacti are covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and many species, by virtue of their inclusion in Appendix 1, are fully protected.

Euphorbia milii, commonly called the Crown of Thorns, is an old pot and house plant. In the tropics & subtropics it has been long used as a landscape plant, valued for its toughness and possibly even more for being inedible to cattle!
Euphorbia milii , known in Thai as Poy-sean. Euphorbia milii need full sun to partial shade with warm temperatures. The plant should be allowed to dry thoroughly between waterings. In the winter months, water should be restricted to once over the winter. The most common failure in growing this plant is over-watering, especially during the winter months.

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Euphorbia milii are propagated by cuttings. Cuttings should be allowed to dry for a period of 3-4 weeks before potting
Normally there are  3 sizs  4, 6 ,8 inches height
Originating in Madagascar, several different clones of this flowering succulent are common plants in tropical and subtropical areas.
At this time of year people start thinking about Euphorbia pulcherrima commonly known as the Poinsettia.

There are, however, many other nice Euphorbias and one of them is Euphorbia milii – Crown of Thorns.It’s a nice little evergreenThey can get up to 4 feet eventually with about 1 foot spread.