? So. Many. Poppies. ? Today’s California…

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? So. Many. Poppies. ? Todays California…

California Wildflowers 2019

Wild poppy fields in Walker Canyon in Lake Elsinore, Californian March 3, 2019.

Eschscholzia californica (California poppy, golden poppy, California sunlight, cup of gold) is a species of flowering plant in the Papaveraceae family, native to the United States and Mexico.

California Wildflowers 2019

It is an ornamental plant flowering in summer, with showy cup-shaped flowers in brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow (occasionally pink). It is also used as food or a garnish. It became the official state flower of California in 1903.

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It is a perennial or annual plant growing to 5–60 in (13–152 cm) tall with alternately branching glaucous blue-green foliage. Flowering occurs from February to September in the northern hemisphere (spring, summer, fall).

California Wildflowers 2019

The petals close at night (or in cold, windy weather) and open again the following morning, although they may remain closed in cloudy weather.

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During the 1890s Sarah Plummer Lemmon advocated for the adoption of the golden poppy as the state flower of California, eventually writing the bill passed by the California Legislature and signed by Governor George Pardee in 1903.

California Wildflowers 2019

In combination with other herbs, California poppy is used medicinally for depression, long-term mental and physical tiredness (neurasthenia), nerve pain, various psychiatric conditions, blood vessel problems, sensitivity to weather changes, and sedation.

California Wildflowers 2019

An herb combination including California poppy is also used for sleep and mood disturbance associated with strong, warm wind in the Alps (foehn illness).

By Kevin Key