Las Vegas Bearpoppy/Mojave Matrix

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Las Vegas Bearpoppy/Mojave Matrix

Las Vegas Bearpoppy/Mojave Matrix

Just another plant that I don't know anything as far as an ID. It's a hardy desert plant. This was seen in the Lake Mead NRA, along Cottonwood Wash between the Northshore Road and Pinto Valley. A trip report is sure to follow on this one. Please bring plenty of water. We followed some Wild Burro tracks through here. We saw a lot of signs of Wild Burros. This is in the vicinity of Hamblin Mountain, which is the extreme western portion of a paleovolcano, separated by 20 km from the Cleopatra Cove volcanics, thanks to left-lateral displacement along the Hamblin Bay fault zone. It looks like an awesomely colourful zone to me!!! Photo taken on an outing with Sp-member 'Tracy.' (March 21, 2008) Mystery solved! California Bearpoppy (Arctomecon californica), also called Las Vegas Bearpoppy, is a perennial forb that only grows in gypsum-rich soils(30 to 69%) near Lake Mead, Nevada/Arizona. The silvery-grey leaves grow in a clump at the base of the plant. The large, yellow, POPPY flowers grow atop long stems. (Sp-member Anya has some beautiful photos of it in bloom.) California Bearpoppy occur in the Upper Sonorian or Mojave Desert Scrub life zone. They also occur in the Gold Butte region and along the south side of Lake Mead near Bonelli Landing (towards Temple Bar). Note: This species has been considered for protection under the Endangered Species Act and is protected -- take only pictures, leave only footprints!!!
lcarreau
on Mar 22, 2008 1:01 am
Lat/Lon: 36.19116°N / 114.72138°W
Image Type(s): Bouldering,  Hiking,  Flora,  Scenery
Image ID: 389913

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Anya Jingle

Anya Jingle - Mar 22, 2008 1:55 am - Hasn't voted

Yes...

these are definitely Bearpaw Poppies. I saw a couple of them in bloom today on route to one of the Cathedral Peaks (Lake Mead). Their flowers are awesome. They are very peculiar about the soil and grow only in limited locations. It's a treat to see them.
Cheers.

dmiki

dmiki - Mar 22, 2008 2:40 am - Hasn't voted

Re: Yes...

Anya, thank you for the identification! Icarreau, if your are satisfied with the information received, please detach your picture from the Unidentified flora and fauna album within the next week so that the album remain 'fresh'. Thanks.

lcarreau

lcarreau - Mar 23, 2008 11:29 am - Hasn't voted

Re: Yes...

Thank you! And I will treat them with upmost respect; as I grew up with the philosophy - take only digital photos, leave only biological footprints! Cheers!:)

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