Additional notes (click to expand)

Medicinal

Colourless latex- mildly narcotic, used by native Americans against toothache.
Mabberley, D.J. (1997) The Plant Book, ed.2, Cambridge University Press p.267

Other use

Eschscholzia californica Cham. Papaveraceae. Californian poppy. Named for German botanist and physician, Johan Friedrich von Eschscholtz (1793-1831). Distribution: North America. Official state flower of California. Contains berberine, considered a potential source for many new medicines, and numerous alkaloids some of which may have mild anxiolytic activity.
Oakeley, Dr. Henry F. (2013). Wellcome Library notes. link

Toxicity

Not toxic, but has anxiolytic effects due to berberine content.
Professor Anthony Dayan, 2022

Geographical distribution

  • Northern America, Mexico, Mexico Northwest
  • Northern America, Northwestern U.S.A.
  • Northern America, South-Central U.S.A.
  • Northern America, Southwestern U.S.A.
  • Northern America, Southwestern U.S.A., California

Eschscholzia californica Cham.

Family: PAPAVERACEAE
Genus: Eschscholzia
Species: californica Cham.
Common names: California Poppy
Distribution summary: North America
Habit: Annual
Hardiness: H4 - Hardy; average winter
Habitat: Grassy sites: meadows, pastures, roadsides
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Arid zones (Q), Poisons garden (PETO)
Flowering months: July, August, September
Reason for growing: Medicinal


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