Desert Poppy - White Bear Poppy
Arctomecon merriamii
Color: White
Common name: Desert poppy, white bear poppy
Latin name: Arctomecon merriamii
Family: PAPAVERACEAE
Height: 12 inches
Description: Stem is greyish/ bluish colour which is produced by the presence a fine bloom or fine white powder of wax. Inflorescence has terminal solitary flower.
Leaf: Generally basal, obovate or wedge-shaped; teeth rounded.
Range: ne Mojave Desert.
Habitat: Rocky limestone slopes and gravel washes.
Elevation: 900–1400 m.
Flowering time: Apr–May
Notes: Photographed May 15, 2010 in Titus Canyon, Death Valley. Perennial herb that is native to California and to Nevada. It is included in the CNPS Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants on list 2.2, rare, threatened, or endangered in CA. Arctomecon comes from the Greek, bear poppy, from long hairs. A similar species, A. californica has yellow petals and grows in sw NV.
We have an online wildflower field guide that is designed to help you identify desert wildflowers by color, scientific name, region and common name. The pictures are sized to work on the iPod, iPhone, iPad and similar devices. With your iPod or phone you will easily be able to identify wildflowers while in the desert. Links for downloads are on the bottom of the Wildflower Field Guide page.
Photo tips: Most digital point-and-shoot cameras have a macro function - usually symbolized by the icon of a little flower. When you turn on that function, you allow your camera to get closer to the subject, looking into a flower for example. Or getting up close and personal with a bug. More on desert photography.
Mojave Desert Wildflowers - This book is the standard by which all other wildflower books are measured. The author, Jon Mark Stewart, has combined super photography with concise information. This book has an entire color page for each wildflower covered, with a discussion of the wildflower. 210 pages with 200 color photos. More...
What's Blooming Now - Check the Wildflower Reports
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The Desert Environment
The North American Deserts
Desert Geological Terms
