California poppy is the most widespread species, extending from the
Columbia River Valley in southwestern Washington south into the Baja
peninsula and sporadically on to the Cape Region, west to the
Pacific Ocean, and east to western Texas. This poppy is the state flower of
California. The species is highly variable,
including long-lived prostrate perennials along the coast, erect perennials of
inland valleys, and annuals in the interior. Eschscholzia californica is
distinctive for its expanded rim of the receptacle below the petals. In
addition, ssp. californica has bifid linear cotyledons (they are entire in
ssp. mexicana and in the other species of the genus), and many of its
populations are perennial. Flower color ranges from a uniform orange to
various orange spots and shadings at the base of deep yellow or golden petals.
In both subspecies, occasional individuals have white, cream, pink, or red
flowers, or combinations of these. These natural color variants are the raw
material of many of the cultivars.
Identification credit: Tabish
Photographed in Delhi.
• Is this flower misidentified?
If yes,
Your name: Your email: Your comments
The flower labeled California Poppy is ...
ntroduced