Arctomecon

Life-forms

ssification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Ordo: Ranunculales

Familia: Papaveraceae
Subfamilia: Papaveroideae
Tribus: Papavereae
Genus: Arctomecon
Species: A. californica – A. humilis – A. merriamii
Name

Arctomecon Torr. & Frem., Rep. Explor. Exped. Rocky Mount. (Frémont) 312. (1845).

Type species: A. californica – Torr. & Frem.

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Northern America
Regional: Southwestern USA
Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Torrey, J. & Frémont, J.C. 1845. Descriptions of some new genera and species of plants, collected in Captain J. C. Frémont's exploring expedition to Oregon and North California, in the years 1843–'44. In: Frémont, J.C. Report of the exploring expedition to the Rocky Mountains in the year 1842, and to Oregon and North California in the years 1843–'44. Gales & Seaton, Washington.: 311–319. BHL Reference page. ː 2: 312

Additional references

Govaerts, R.H.A. 1995. World Checklist of Seed Plants 1(1, 2). 483, 529 pp. MIM, Deurne. ISBN 90-341-0852-X (issue 1) ISBN 90-341-0853-8 (issue 2). Reference page.

Links

Hassler, M. 2020. Arctomecon. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2020. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published online. Accessed: 2020 March 21. Reference page.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2020. Arctomecon in Kew Science Plants of the World Online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2020 March 21. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2020. Arctomecon. Published online. Accessed: 21 March 2020. Reference page.

Arctomecon is a genus of the poppy family Papaveraceae commonly called the bear poppies or bear-paw poppies, after the distinctive appearance of the leaves. The three species occur only in the northeastern part of the Mojave Desert of North America, and are all uncommon.

The plants consist of one or a cluster of basal rosettes of leaves with a generally light blue or grey appearance. Closer examination shows the leaves to be generally wedge-shaped, with the end of each divided into several teeth, and entirely covered with long hairs 5–15 mm in length. The effect is that of a hairy bear paw, whence both common and scientific name (arktos bear + mecon poppy). The solitary terminal flowers are typical of poppies, with 2-3 sepals and 4-6 petals, either white or yellow, and starting out as nodding bud before become erect. The fruit capsule has 4-6 valves, opens from the top as it dries, releasing a handful of small wrinkled black seeds.

Arctomecon habitat is typically the harshest and driest soils of the Mojave, where few other plants survive. They especially seem to favor soils with a high gypsum content.
Species
Image Name Description Distribution
Arctomecon californica, also known as the "Las Vegas bear poppy" Largest of the genus, with stems up to 2 feet high and bright yellow flowers up to 3 inches across. Its range centers around the hills east of Las Vegas, Nevada, in the Grand Canyon National Park, and in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area; it may occasionally be seen growing in vacant lots in the city
Arctomecon humilis White flowers, but is much smaller and shorter, and only sparsely hirsute. It occurs only a small area near St. George, Utah.
Arctomecon merriamii Similar to A. californica, but has white flowers. It occurs in the Mojave west and north of Las Vegas, as far as Death Valley.
References

Christopher Grey-Wilson, Poppies (Portland: Timber Press, 2000) ISBN 0-88192-503-9 pp. 226–229