California-poppy has attracted wide attention because of its abun- 

 dance and great beauty. Much has been written about its charm, and 

 many legends bear testimony to the fascination it has exercised 

 on those who know it in its native haunts. Californians selected 

 it for their State flower in 1890, thus making it the first generally 

 accepted State flower in the Union. The early Spanish inhabitants 

 called it copa de ora (cup of gold), and legend explains that the 

 orange petals, turning to gold, filled the soil with the precious metal 

 so eagerly sought for by the Forty-niners. The large, beautiful flow- 

 ers unfold only in the full sunlight; when the plants are abundant 

 the whole landscape may be gilded by their intense color. The 

 species easily ranks among the most attractive native plants of 

 the Pacific coast. Originally, it occurred from the lower Columbia 

 River country to Lower California, in Mexico, and east to Arizona, 

 but attained its best development and greatest abundance in the 

 foothills and valleys of California. Garden escapes have increased 

 its range so that it now appears, at least occasionally, in most of 

 the Western States. 



This species most commonly grows in patches or extensive fields, 

 but always in the full sunlight. It occurs in a considerable variety 

 of soils, provided they are porous or that there is sufficient slope for 

 surplus moisture to drain away. Common sites are idle grain fields, 

 railroad rights-of-way, and dry washes, but the plant becomes espe- 

 cially abundant on low, open, unused, or lightly grazed hills. The 

 species is generally limited to low elevations, seldom growing natu- 

 rally above 2,500 feet in California and occurring below the pon- 

 derosa pine belt throughout its natural range. 



The foliage of California-poppy is not very palatable to live- 

 stock; it is rated as poor forage for cattle and fair for sheep. This 

 deficiency in forage value appears to be due to some disagreeable 

 taste, as otherwise the foliage has desirable qualities, being soft and 

 juicy and remaining green long after the common associated plants 

 have matured. It seems to have a higher palatability as a silage. In 

 one study of plants harvested in full bloom, the cured silage was 

 wet and slimy, with a pleasant odor and was eaten readily by cat- 

 tle. 1 Livestock losses have been reported as due to California-poppy, 

 although the toxic effect has not been verified by experimental feed- 

 ing. The close relationship of this species to the opium poppy 

 (Papaver somn-iferum) of the Old World doubtless explains, in part, 

 why the former is sometimes suspected to be poisonous. 



California-poppy is cultivated extensively as an ornamental, usu- 

 ally as a hardy annual, in most temperate climates and has now 

 become naturalized in Europe, Australia, and elsewhere. The large, 

 showy flowers and attractive bluish green foliage adapt this species 

 for border plantings. In its native habitat, the bright, highly col- 

 ored blossoms are extensively gathered for home decoration. The 

 Indians are reputed to have used it as a food, boiling or roasting 

 the foliage and then rinsing in water before eating. The Spanish- 

 Americans prized as a hair oil a concoction made by boiling the 



1 Westover, H. L. SILAGE PALATABILITY TESTS. Jour. Amer. Soc. Agron. 26(2) : 

 106-116. 1934. 



