By Cynthia Andary
Eschscholzia californica also known as the California poppy, golden poppy, California sunlight, or the cup of gold became the official state flower of California in 1903. Adelbert von Chamisso, a German botanist, named it after his friend and colleague, Baltic German botanist Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz. The California poppy blooms for around ten weeks, between late February and early May, with about three peak weeks in late March and early April. The orange, sometimes yellow, flower is native to the Pacific slope of North America from Western Oregon to Baja California. Opposite to popular belief, there is no law protecting the California poppy from being picked from the ground. The plant was an important resource for the indigenous people of California; they used it for oil and food, as well as the pollen as a colorful cosmetic. However, if ingested without proper preparation, it may be toxic to wildlife and humans. Roots of the plant are used in the medical field as a sedative to encourage sleep. It is also drunk as a tea before bed to encourage sleep and is a good treatment for insomnia, it can also be smoked for relaxation. The plant’s vivid orange blossoms are a perfect icon of the Golden State: a floral symbol of the “gold fields” sought during the gold rush.