Bearpoppy's Bounty

California or Las Vegas Bearpoppy:
(Arctomecon californica)

Flowers: Blooms March - May. Flower stems several per plant; branched.
Flowers yellow and large, with 6 petals.

Seeds: Fruits are oval seed pods that mature & open before the end of
June. Seeds: tiny, black and numerous.

Habitat: Restricted to the eroded, GYPSUM-rich soils (gypsum content of
36 to 69%) near Lake Mead, Nevada. Referred to at the
"Gypsum Barren Community."

GYPSUM (or Selenite) is classified as a 'Hydrated Calcium Sulfate,'
associated with a 'saline sedimentary environment.' Processed just
west of Las Vegas, it's USED as plaster, wallboard(sheetrock), some
cements, fertilizer, paint filler and decorative stone.

-Photo taken inside Lovell Canyon near Lake Mead, Nevada (March 2008)