365 Urban Species. #222: California Poppy

[urbpan]

Photos by urbpan. Location: Downtown Victoria, British Columbia.

Urban species #222: California poppy Eschscholzia californica

In the Summer, the rains abandon the Pacific northwest and the weeds and grasses turn sere and yellow. Above the wan amber stalks glow golden orange flowers--for the California poppy has been brought to this city to thrive in the summer drought. Native to Southern Washington down to California and the southwest, California poppy enjoys the dry summers of the Puget Sound area and its many other new homes. It has been introduced to places with Mediterranean climates all around the world, including Chile, Australia and South Africa. It can now be found in many eastern states, as well as in southwest Canada. According to the USDA, California poppy can even be found in Massachusetts, though only in Boston's Suffolk County. Only the state of Tennessee lists California poppy as an invasive.

California poppy enjoys full sun, and grows best on grassy hillsides, or treeless lots. Herbivores avoid its bitter-tasting alkaloids, and grazed areas often boast the most poppies. The chemicals in California poppy, though less potent than those of the opium poppy, can be used for analgesic and sedative purposes. In its native range, flying beetles pollenate California poppies, but in most places this function has been replaced by honeybees. Unsurprisingly, this attractive urban wildflower is the state flower of the most populous state, California.





Location: Discovery Park, Seattle.

Comments

[cavalaxis]

It has the most lovely gray green foliage down here in Central California.

[aplomada.livejournal.com]

I didn't know British Columbia suffered from droughts. I always thought it was a temperate rainforest. Of course, all things are relative; I live in dry Denver, Colorado.

[droserary.livejournal.com]

In the PNW, we depend heavily on snowmelt for our summer water source. The rivers, lakes, and estuaries depend on it too. This year was a heavy snowfall year (skiing season was extended long beyond its normal date), so there's not much to worry about in the way of a drought. I've been told last year was terrible (only a [i]handful[/i] of ski season days to speak of), but then they got more rain then usual in the summer.

I'm told by the native Washingtonians that this summer is unusually dry. I haven't seen significant rainfall since mid-May. Maybe a day or two, but that's about it. I'm enjoying it!

[droserary.livejournal.com]

Darn it. I used bulletinboard code istead of html. I really just wish they were one in the same. Phooey.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

I was under that impression as well. As it turns out, during the summer the region is very dry. I went to rainforests on Vancouver Island and on the Olympic peninsula and they were festooned with dry crispy mosses. Awesome icon, by the way.

[kryptyd.livejournal.com]

How lovely! I don't thinkwe have yellow poppies in Ireland

[taniwhanui.livejournal.com]

Hi. I saw your blog on LJ Spotlight and came over to have a look. I find it quite interesting, so I've added you to my Friends List. Hope that's ok.

Taniwha (:

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Welcome! I hope you enjoy it. Feel free to go through the archives to see if I've profiled your favorite species!

[taniwhanui.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I'll do that when I have some time. (:

[miyazaki-dolls.livejournal.com]

that's beautiful. I love your LJ!

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!