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Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Perennial Forbs Around Las Vegas, Vegetation Around Las Vegas
Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)

General: Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii), also called White Bearpoppy, is a perennial forb that tends to grow in limestone soils. The silvery-gray, hairy leaves grow in a clump on the ground. The large, white-poppy flowers grow atop long stems.

Desert Bearpoppy is a rare component of desert vegetation communities along washes and on bajadas in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub) life zone. Around Las Vegas, look for this species in Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument and in Desert National Wildlife Refuge.

Because it is rare, Desert Bearpoppy is considered to be a sensitive species.

Family: Poppy (Papaveraceae).

Other Names: White bearpoppy, white bear poppy, white bear-poppy, desert bear-poppy

Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Desert Bearpoppy flower

Plant Form: Low-growing herb with upright flower stalks.

Height: Leaves to a few inches; flower stalks to about 18 inches.

Stems: None per se; flower stalks naked.

Leaves: Basal, generally wedge-shaped with rounded teeth at the end; hairy (hairs to 1/2 inch). Blades to 3 inches.

Flowers: Blooms late spring to early summer. Inflorescence: flowers solitary atop naked stalk. Petals large (to almost 2 inches), white.

Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Elongate leaf with lobed end and long hairs

Seeds: Fruits: 1- to 1-1/2-inch-long capsule, oblong (typical poppy pod). Seeds tiny.

Habitat: Typically mud-hills habitats on desert flats, but also dry, well-drained gravelly and rocky soils on upper bajadas and moderate slopes in the lower mountains.

Elevation: 3,000 to 4,500 ft.

Distribution: California and southern Nevada

Comments:

Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Desert Bearpoppy in typical mud soils
Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Desert Bearpoppy in typical mud soils
Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Desert Bearpoppy (lower left) in gravel soils
Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Desert Bearpoppy (lower left) in gravel soils
Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii) Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Sprouts
Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Sprouts
Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii) Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii) Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii) Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii) Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Desert Bearpoppy with flower buds, flowers, and seedpods
Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Hairy Desert Bearpoppy flower bud
Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii) Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Desert Bearpoppy flower
Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Desert Bearpoppy with seedpods after the flowers are gone
Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Desert Bearpoppy developing seedpod
Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Desert Bearpoppy ripe seedpod
Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Desert Bearpoppy open seedpod
Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Desert Bearpoppy open seedpod
Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii) Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii) Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii) Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Dried flower stalks persist through the winter
Desert Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii)
Dried seedpod during winter

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate. Names generally follow the USDA database.
copyright; Last updated 211225

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