What is the California poppy? Let us take you to truly understand this plant

Other names for the California poppy

California poppy, golden flower, ginseng flower, foreign corydalis

Morphological characteristics of the California poppy

The stem is erect, 30-60 cm tall, distinctly longitudinally ribbed, much branched, spreading, dichotomous. The petiole is long, the leaf blade is grayish-green, several times ternately pinnately finely divided, the segments variable in shape, linear and acute, oblong and acute or obtuse, spoon-shaped and oblong; among the 3 terminal lobes, the middle lobe is mostly broader and shorter; the cauline leaves are the same as the basal leaves, but smaller and with short petioles.

The flowers are solitary at the top of the stem and branches; the pedicel is 5-15 cm long, the receptacle is sunken, funnel-shaped or nearly tubular. Petals 4, triangular-fan-shaped, 2.5-3 cm long, yellow, with orange-yellow spots at the base; stamens numerous, more than about 40, the filaments filiform, broadened at the base, about 3 mm long, the anthers linear, 5-6 mm long, orange-yellow; the ovary is narrowly elongated, the style is short, the stigmas 4, subulate-linear, unequal in length.

Growth habits of the California poppy

It is relatively cold-tolerant, prefers a cool and dry climate, is not suited to hot and humid conditions, and does best in loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam with a deep top layer; it also tolerates poor soil.

It is native to California, United States. It has been widely introduced in China as a garden ornamental plant.

Main value of the California poppy

Ornamental: the flowers of the California poppy are bright yellow, and the petals are funnel-shaped or nearly tubular, grand and beautiful. In China it is often grown as a potted ornamental. It can also be planted in clumps.

Medicinal: the sedative and anti-anxiety effects of California poppy extract may be related to activation of benzodiazepine receptors, but unlike such drugs, the extract has no anticonvulsant or muscle-relaxant effects; the analgesic effect of the extract is peripheral rather than central.

The flower language of the California poppy

Promise me, do not reject me