3. Eschscholzia Cham. (gold poppy)

Twelve species, western U.S.; Mexico.

Gold poppies are a conspicuous component of the spring bloom in the southwestern states, especially in the Sonoran Desert and southern California grasslands. The generic name has been spelled Eschscholtzia in some of the older botanical literature, but Chamisso’s original spelling is to be retained, although the name honors Johann F. G. von Eschscholtz (note extra letter t). See Ernst (1962) for further discussion.