''Romneya'' () is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s belonging to the poppy family (

Papaveraceae The Papaveraceae, informally known as the poppy family, are an economically important family (biology), family of about 42 genera and approximately 775 known species of flowering plants in the order Ranunculales. The family is cosmopolitan dis ...

). There are two species in the genus ''Romneya'', which was named for Irish astronomer John Thomas Romney Robinson. They are known commonly as Matilija poppies ( ), bush poppies, California poppies, or tree poppies. The common name "Matilija" is said to come from the Chumash leader, Chief Matilija. They are also known as the "fried egg flower" or the "fried egg plant" due to their bright yellow stamen, which creates the image of a sunny-side-up egg. They are native to chaparral and coastal scrub habitats in Southern

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

and Baja California. They are also known to do well in Britain. They are

perennial In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...

subshrub A subshrub (Latin ''suffrutex'') or undershrub is either a small shrub (e.g. prostrate shrubs) or a perennial that is largely herbaceous but slightly woody at the base (e.g. garden pink and florist's chrysanthemum). The term is often interch ...

s with woody stems. They may grow to a height of and a width of , with the flowers up to across. The silvery green

leaves A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...

are deeply cut, with a small fringe of hairs at the margins. They are notable for their large, satiny white

flower Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...

s and intense boss of yellow stamens, blooming in late spring and summer. Their thin white petals have a satiny crepe-like texture. ''Romneya'' produce the largest flowers of any members of the poppy family. These flowers prefer a warm, sunny spot against a south-facing wall with fertile

soil Soil, also commonly referred to as earth, is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, water, and organisms that together support the life of plants and soil organisms. Some scientific definitions distinguish dirt from ''soil'' by re ...

with good water drainage. They are not easily grown but once established are difficult to remove. In the wild, they are known as "fire followers" because they need smoke to germinate and can be frequently, but not exclusively, found in burned areas. When these flowers are grown on a hillside, they can act as a soil binder and prevent erosion. Matilija poppies were reportedly used medicinally by the Chumash to treat skin and gum problems, and stomach aches. The two species are: *'' Romneya coulteri'' Harv. – Coulter's Matilija poppy *'' Romneya trichocalyx'' Eastw. – Bristly Matilija poppy. Some consider this a variety of ''Romneya coulteri'', but it is accepted in recent manuals.

References

External links

California Native Plant Society: ''Romneya coulteri''USDA Plants Profile
* {{Taxonbar, from=Q2535357 Papaveroideae Papaveraceae genera Flora of California Flora of Baja California Taxa named by William Henry Harvey