Eschscholzia minutiflora, Pygmy Poppy
Scientific Name: Eschscholzia minutiflora - (esh-SHOLE-tzee-a)
Common Name: Pygmy Poppy
Also Called: Pygmy Goldenpoppy
Family:
Papaveraceae or Poppy Family
Synonyms: (Eschscholzia androuxii, Eschscholtzia minutiflora, Eschscholzia minutiflora var. minutiflora)
Status: Native
Duration: Annual
Size: Up to 12 inches more or less.
Growth Form: Forb/herb; plants erect or spreading, branching and leafy well above the base.
Leaves: Blue-glaucous, gray-glaucous.
Flower Color: Yellow; base of flower sometimes orange spotted, fruit a 2 inch capsule, seeds brown or black.
Flowering Season: February to May, March to May in California.
Elevation: Up to 4,500 feet.
Habitat Preferences: Sandy soil, desert washes, flats and slopes.
Recorded Range: Pygmy Poppy is found in the southwestern United States in AZ,CA, NV, UT. In Arizona it occurs in the western 2⁄3 of the state, few records in Yavapai county. It is also native to Baja California and northwest Mexico.
North America & US County Distribution Map for Eschscholzia minutiflora.
U.S. Weed Information: No information available.
Invasive/Noxious Weed Information: No information available.
Wetland Indicator: No information available.
Threatened/Endangered Information: No information available.
The Plant List includes 12 accepted species names for the genus Eschscholzia.
There are 3 sub-species in Eschscholzia minutiflora:
Eschscholzia minutiflora subsp. covillei, Coville's Poppy, CA, NV;
Eschscholzia minutiflora subsp. minutiflora, Pygmy Poppy, AZ, CA, NV, UT;
Eschscholzia minutiflora subsp. twisselmannii, Red Rock Poppy, CA only.
Comments: The photos above were take at Anza Borrego Springs, California (winter-spring 2016).
Pygmy Poppy is somewhat similar in appearance to Desert Poppy, both are found in the same general areas however Pygmy Poppy is some smaller.
In Southwest Desert Flora also see; California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica and Desert Poppy, Eschscholzia glyptosperma.