Cream cups

This plant with a name that conjure confectionery delights in your mind is actually a very small flowers growing in meadows. This particular specimen grew on a hilly meadow right next to the ocean. Most species were yellow but a few were white. The plant does not seem to be common.

  Cream cups in a grassy meadow near Crescent City

So what else can we find out about this plant? Its Latin name is Platystemon californicus and it is the only species within the genus Platystemon.  The plant belongs to the Poppy family (Papaveraceae). The flower has 6 petals with yellow spots.

Cream cups flower

Cream cups are low growing plants but the bright flowers attract attention. There were several other plants growing in that same meadow but more about them is coming in future blog posts.

White Platystemon californicus

Notice that that petals are sometimes angular and sometimes rounded. The spots are present in the majority of species but not all of them  (like the yellow flower in the above photograph does not have them or they are hidden by the center parts.). 

California Poppy

 California poppy

California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is the state flower of California. It has bright orange flowers and it is actually encountered in the wild a lot: you'll see it in meadows, as well as in lawns and flower beds.

California poppy

Poppy belongs to poppy family (Papaveraceae). Other members of the family include Matilija or tree poppy (Romneya) and opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). The latter is also the one that produces poppy seeds that we use in baking.

 Matilija poppy

Matilija poppy