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The California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is renowned for its brilliant golden-orange flowers, though white petal variants have been described. By whole-transcriptome sequencing, we have discovered in multiple white petal varieties a single deletion leading to altered splicing and C-terminal truncation of phytoene synthase (PSY), a key enzyme in carotenoid biosynthesis. Our findings underscore the diverse roles of phytoene synthase in shaping horticultural traits, and resolve a longstanding mystery of the regaled golden poppy.

California poppy products are commonly used for the treatment of nervousness, anxiety and sleeping disorders. Pharmacologically relevant constituents include the main alkaloids californidine, escholtzine and protopine. However, only limited information is available about the alkaloid content in commercial preparations and their intestinal absorption. Moreover, a possible metabolization of these alkaloids by the gut microbiota, and their impact on microbial activity and viability have not been investigated. Californidine, escholtzine and protopine were quantified by UHPLC-MS/MS in eight commercial California poppy products. The intestinal permeability of alkaloids was studied in Caco-2 cell as a model for absorption in the small intestine. The gut microbial biotransformation was explored in artificial gut microbiota from the in vitro PolyFermS model. In addition, the impact of these alkaloids and a California poppy extract on the microbial production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and the viability of microbiota was investigated. Contents of californidine, escholtzine and protopine in California poppy products were in the ranges of 0.13-2.55, 0.05-0.63 and 0.008-0.200 mg/g, respectively. In the Caco-2 cell model, californidine was low-to-moderately permeable while escholtzine and protopine were highly permeable. An active transport process was potentially involved in the transfer of the three alkaloids. The three compounds were not metabolized by the artificial gut microbiota over 24 h. Neither the California poppy extract nor the alkaloids markedly impacted microbial SCFA production and bacterial viability., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Summary: Angiosperms possess enormous morphological variation in plant architectures and floral forms. Previous studies in Pentapetalae and monocots have demonstrated the involvement of TCP domain CYCLOIDEA/TEOSINTE BRANCHED1‐like (CYC/TB1) genes in the control of floral symmetry and shoot branching. However, how TCP/CYC‐like (CYL) genes originated, evolved and functionally diversified remain unclear. We conducted a comparative functional study in Ranunculales, the sister lineage to all other eudicots, between Eschscholzia californica and Cysticapnos vesicaria, two species of Papaveraceae with actinomorphic and zygomorphic flowers, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that CYL genes in Papaveraceae form two paralogous lineages, PapaCYL1 and PapaCYL2. Papaveraceae CYL genes show highly diversified expression patterns as well as functions. Enhanced branching by silencing of EscaCYL1 suggests that the role of CYC/TB1‐like genes in branching control is conserved in Papaveraceae. In contrast to the arrest of stamen development in Pentapetalae, PapaCYL genes promote stamen initiation and growth. In addition, we demonstrate that CyveCYLs are involved in perianth development, specifying sepal and petal identity in Cysticapnos by regulating the B‐class floral organ identity genes. Our data also suggest the involvement of CyveCYL genes in the regulation of flower symmetry in Cysticapnos. Our work provides evidence of the importance of TCP/CYC‐like genes in the promotion of morphological diversity across angiosperms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe infection by powdery mildew was observed on California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) plants in Texcoco, State of Mexico, during spring of 2014 to 2017. Symptoms included colonies of white to greyish mildew-like growth on the abaxial and adaxial surfaces of the leaves. The identification of the fungal species was performed by examination of morphological structures using light microscopy and scanning electron microscope (SEM), as well as sequence analysis of the 5ʹ-end of 28S rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA. Using the combination of morphological characterization and a phylogenetic analysis using Bayesian inference, the fungal agent was identified as Erysiphe eschscholziae. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on leaves of California poppy plants, and Koch’s postulates were fulfilled. This is the first report of E. eschscholziae causing powdery mildew on Eschscholzia californica in Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report 8 new records of Lepidochelys olivacea marine turtle in the Uruguayan waters, indicating this area as the southernmost limit of distribution for this species in the western Atlantic Ocean. In addition, 1 specimen was subjected to genetic analysis, revealing its population origin in the western Atlantic nesting colonies (Surinam, French Guiana, and Brazil). This report represents an update of the distribution of L. olivacea in the southwestern Atlantic and provides insight into the morphological and genetic characterization of the species at temperate waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study, conducted during a scientific cruise, MR15-04, aims, first, to examine species and larval/adult components of Halobates (Heteroptera: Gerridae) inhabiting the tropical Indian Ocean of 4°000 S-7°000 S, 101°000 E-103°000 E and, second, to examine the correlative relationship between precipitation just before collection and the number of sea skaters collected in November and December 2015. Near Sumatra (50 km south-west), larvae and adults of four species of Halobates (Halobates germanes White, 1883; Halobates micans Eschscholtz, 1822; Halobates princeps White, 1883; undescribed species: Halobates sp.) were collected. Adults of an undescribed species had about a 5 mm long body in a gourd-like shape. One male adult specimen of H. princeps was collected. Body length, body width, and head width was measured in all specimens of Halobates. Six larval stages were detected in all three species of sea skaters as the first finding for Heteropteran insects. There was a negative correlation between amount of precipitation for 19 h before collection and the number of Halobates individuals collected by the neuston net. Death or (positive or passive) sinking by sea skaters could be due to occasional rain fall on the sea surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a research on several benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids including sanguinarine, chelirubine, and macarpine in Eschscholtzia californica cell culture by using high performance liquid chromatography diode array detector (HPLC-DAD), and high performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectroscopy (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS). Topics discussed include a ternary gradient pump system, alkaloid production, and informational deducted metabolism.

RATIONALE Alkaloids with significant therapeutic effects are the main active constituents of Macleaya cordata, which is a perennial herb plant in the Papaveraceae family. A systematic and novel method for speculating and identifying the structures of alkaloids in M. cordata fruits by high-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC/Q-TOF-MS) with a screening procedure was reported. METHODS Investigation of mass spectral fragmentation of alkaloids was carried out based on the tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) data analyses of eight reference substances. The skeletons of alkaloids were determined by their ultraviolet spectra (UV) and MS/MS data. The substituent groups of the alkaloids were acquired through a screening procedure developed in our laboratory and MS/MS data. The substituent linkage sites were deduced by MS/MS fragmentation behavior, as well as biosynthetic pathways of related alkaloids. RESULTS The structures of 21 alkaloids were speculated in this study, 10 of which were reported for the first time in M. cordata. Furthermore, benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline and N-methyltetrahydroprotoberberine-type alkaloids were discovered, which indirectly proved that the biosynthetic pathways of benzophenanthridine alkaloids reported in Eschscholtzia california existed in M. cordata as well . CONCLUSIONS HPLC/Q-TOF-MS combined with a screening procedure was a systematic and reliable method for speculating and elucidating the structures of alkaloids. This study might be useful for the identification of other compounds in herbal medicines. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of dietary tryptophan (a precursor of 5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT, serotonin) on the agonistic behavior, growth, and survival of freshwater crayfish were investigated. For this aim, a control diet (D1) and three experimental diets (D2, D3, and D4) were prepared. D1 contained no additional tryptophan (TRP), but D2, D3, and D4 diets were supplemented with TRP at 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00 % in dry diet, respectively. The control contained 0.33 % TRP. Results revealed that higher supplemental dietary TRP levels caused a significant decrease in the aggressive behavior ( P < 0.05), but an increase in the calmness of crayfish. In addition, the results showed that 5-HT levels in the hemolymph before the fight (after 15 days of feeding; resting) were significantly different ( P < 0.05) between D1 and D4. There was a significant difference ( P < 0.05) in the 5-HT level of hemolymph between the crayfish fed control and D4 after 15 days of feeding. However, after the fight, 5-HT concentration was significantly higher ( P < 0.05) in TRP-supplemented A. leptodactylus as compared with the control. The findings of this study showed that supplemental dietary TRP caused a significant increase ( P < 0.05) in the growth and survival rate of A. leptodactylus. The crayfish fed D4 had the best survival rate at the end of the experiment (91.60 % in August). The findings of this study also showed that difference in survival rate between the crayfish fed control and D2 in June, July, and August was not significant ( P > 0.05). In addition to these, supplemental dietary TRP gave rise to significantly higher specific growth rate (SGR) values in June and July ( P < 0.05). For example, in June, it was 0.38 for the crayfish fed D4, 0.28 for the crayfish fed D3, 0.18 for the crayfish fed D2, and 0.13 for the crayfish fed control. However, in August, the highest SGR (0.56) was obtained from the crayfish fed control. The results also showed that the SGRs of females were lower than the males in June, July, and August ( P < 0.05). In conclusion, this research shows that the aggressive behavior of A. leptodactylus can be suppressed, and rearing efficiency (i.e., increased growth and high survival rate) of this species can be improved by increasing TRP levels to 1.00 % in its diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of Eschscholzia are described. Both are found in the deserts of California and one extends outside the state boundary into Arizona. Eschscholzia androuxii Still, sp. nov. is found mainly in and around Joshua Tree National Park in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Eschscholzia papastillii Still, sp. nov. is found from the northern Mojave south through Joshua Tree National Park to central Imperial County. Both are annuals found in coarse, sandy soil and have yellow flowers typical of desert Eschscholzia. Eschscholzia papastillii has an expanded receptacular rim similar to that of E. californica. Eschscholzia androuxii has anthocyanin bands around the stamen filaments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A redescription with illustrations of the species Lyrosoma pallidum and a key to the Korean species of the family Agyrtidae are provided. New distributional data, including a range extension, of the two Lyrosoma Mannerheim species are presented. Lyrosoma pallidum (Eschscholtz) is recorded for the first time in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In angiosperms, the shoot apical meristem is at the origin of leaves and stems and is eventually transformed into the floral meristem. Class I knotted-like homeobox ( KNOX I) genes are known as crucial regulators of shoot meristem formation and maintenance. KNOX I genes maintain the undifferentiated state of the apical meristem and are locally downregulated upon leaf initiation. In Arabidopsis, KNOX I genes, especially SHOOTMERISTEMLESS ( STM), have been shown to regulate flower development and the formation of carpels. We investigated the role of STM-like genes in the reproductive development of Eschscholzia californica, to learn more about the evolution of KNOX I gene function in basal eudicots. We identified two orthologs of STM in Eschscholzia, EcSTM1 and EcSTM2, which are predominantly expressed in floral tissues. In contrast, a KNAT1/ BP-like and a KNAT2/ 6-like KNOX I gene are mainly expressed in vegetative organs. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) was used to knockdown gene expression, revealing that both EcSTM genes are required for the formation of reproductive organs. Silencing of EcSTM1 resulted in the loss of the gynoecium and a reduced number of stamens. EcSTM2-VIGS flowers had reduced and defective gynoecia and a stronger reduction in the number of stamen than observed in EcSTM1-VIGS. Co-silencing of both genes led to more pronounced phenotypes. In addition, silencing of EcSTM2 alone or together with EcSTM1 resulted in altered patterns of internodal elongation and sometimes in other floral defects. Our data suggest that some aspects of STM function present in Arabidopsis evolved already before the basal eudicots diverged from core eudicots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distributional, biological and nomenclatural notes are presented for 113 species of Buprestidae from the U.S. and Canada in the following 29 genera and subgenera: Acmaeodera (s. str.) Eschscholtz 1829, Acmaeoderopsis Barr 1974, Actenodes Dejean 1833, Agaeocera Saunders 1871, Agrilaxia Kerremans 1903, Agrilus (s. str.) Curtis 1825, Anthaxia (Haplanthaxia) Reitter 1911, Anthaxia (Melanthaxia) Richter 1949, Aphanisticus Latreille 1829, Brachys Dejean 1833, Buprestis (s. str.) Linnaeus 1758, Buprestis (Cypriacis) Casey 1909, Buprestis (Knulliobuprestis) Kurosawa 1988, Buprestis (Stereosa) Casey 1909, Chalcophora Dejean 1833, Chrysobothris (s. str.) Eschscholtz 1829, Dicerca (s. str.) Eschscholtz 1829, Hesperorhipis Fall 1920, Mastogenius Solier 1849, Pachyschelus Solier 1833, Paratyndaris (s. str.) Fisher 1919, Paratyndaris (Knulliella) Cobos 1980, Phaenops Dejean 1833, Polycesta (s. str.) Dejean 1833, Polycesta (Arizonica) Cobos 1981, Spectralia Casey 1909, Taphrocerus (s. str.) Solier 1833 and Xenorhipis LeConte 1866. Records include one new record for Canada, 65 new U.S. state records, 52 new larval hosts, 34 new adult hosts and 31 new flower associations. Comments on and corrections to previous literature records for other species are also made, and Agrilus neoprosopidus Knull 1938 is confirmed as a correct original spelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine some morphological characteristics of freshwater crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz 1823) populations in various water resources in Turkey. We present the relationships between total length (TL), carapace length (CL), chelae length (ChL), abdomen length (AL) and total weight (W) for Astacus leptodactylus from three lakes, three dam lakes and an irrigation lake. The values of the exponent b of the length?weight relationships ranged from 1.0760 to 3.6939 and intercepts from 1.0760 to 3.6939 for combined data. The r² values ranged from 0.6599 to 0.9561 and relationships were estimated highly significant (P<0.05). Differences in slopes of regression lines between sexes as well as among locations were not significant, tested by ANCOVA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the phylogenetic relationships and patterns of character evolution among the California poppies and their relatives (Papaveraceae, Eschscholtzieae). Morphological comparisons and parsimony were used in the study, along with likelihood-based phylogenetic analyses of two chloroplast and two nuclear DNA regions. The subspecies of both Eschscholzia californica and Eschscholzia lemmonii has been promoted to specific status based on the results of the study.

The oceanic water strider (or ocean-skater) Halobates sericeus Eschscholtz has a disjunct distribution in the Pacific Ocean, with northern and southern populations widely separated by an equatorial zone. It is sensitive to sea surface conditions and, consequently, its distribution and population structure may provide an insight into environmental changes on the ocean surface on both recent and historical time scales. We assessed the genetic diversity and population structure of H. sericeus in the Pacific Ocean using three gene markers - cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI), elongation factor 1α and internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS-1). These markers indicate that both populations are evolutionarily distinct with limited gene flow, having separated 20 000-50 000 years ago. This suggests that physical conditions and/or biotic interactions on the surface of the Pacific Ocean have provided significant barriers to gene flow since the late Pleistocene or earlier, creating biotic stability over large geographical and temporal scales in spite of a long history of global climate change. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 105, 797-805. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aequorea globosa Eschscholtz, 1829 is recorded for the first time from the Mediterranean Sea. The presence of this Indo-Pacific jellyfish in the Mediterranean is probably due to ship-mediated transport. A. globosa has been observed in Iskenderun Bay almost all year round from January 2011 until October 2011. This finding suggests that A. globosa has been established in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The langurs of the genus Presbytis inhabit tropical rainforests of Sundaland, and with more than 50 color variants grouped in up to eleven species, Presbytis is one of the most diverse Old World monkey genera. The number of taxa and their phylogenetic relationships however remain controversial. To address these issues, we analyzed a 1.8kb long fragment of the mitochondrial genome, including the cytochrome b gene, the hypervariable region I of the D-loop and the intermediate tRNAs, from individuals representing nine species. Based on our data, we obtained various well-supported terminal clades, which refer mainly to described taxa. Relationships among these clades are not fully resolved, suggesting at least two radiations in the evolutionary history of the genus. According to divergence age estimates, radiations occurred in the late Miocene and the early to middle Pleistocene. Our findings support the revision of the current classification of the genus Presbytis and enable us to discuss implications for conservation. However, further studies including nuclear sequence data are necessary to completely understand the evolutionary history of the genus, and to address possible hybridization events among taxa. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In cultured cells of California poppy ( Eschscholzia californica), lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) triggers a signal path that finally induces alkaloid biosynthesis. LPC is transiently generated by elicitor-activated phospholipase A2 of the plasma membrane. Externally added LPC is rapidly acylated by a membrane-bound enzyme that shows the highest specific activity in the purified plasma membrane. The fatty acid incorporated into the sn-2 position of LPC is preferentially linoleic (18:2), which is the most abundant acyl component in the PC species of Eschscholzia cells, but a minor component of the pool of free fatty acids. The fatty acid at the sn-1 position of LPC is less important for substrate specificity. The capacity of LPC acylation by intact cells or isolated plasma membranes by far exceeds the rate of LPC generation by activated phospholipase A2 and is not limited by the availability of acyl donors. Metabolites other than phosphatidylcholine (PC) were not significantly produced from labeled LPC within 20 min, indicating that lysophospholipases are not significantly contributing to the short-time metabolism of LPC. It is concluded that reacylation to PC is the dominating process in the detoxication of LPC and ensures the transient character of its steady state concentrations, even at maximum phospholipase A2 activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An identification of 33 species of Conoderus Group II, Eschscholtz 1829 (Coleoptera, Elateridae) with full diagnosis, distribution, with representative illustrations of four species of the neotropical region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Microscopic counting of plant cells is a very tedious and time-consuming process and is therefore seldom used to evaluate plant cell number on a routine basis. This study describes a fast and simple method to evaluate cell concentration in a plant cell suspension using a fluorescence microplate reader. Eschscholtzia californica cells were fixed in a mix of methanol and acetic acid (3:1) and stained with a fluorescent DNA binding dye (Hoechst33258). Readings were done in a fluorescence microplate reader at 360/465nm. Specific binding of the dye to double-stranded DNA was significantly favored over unspecific binding when 1.0M Tris buffer at pH7.5 containing 1.0M NaCl and 75gml-1 of Hoechst33258 was used. Fluorescence readings must be done between 4min and 12min following the addition of the staining solution to the sample. The microplate counting method provides a convenient, rapid and sensitive procedure for determining the cell concentration in plant cell suspensions. The assay has a linear detection range from 0.2106cells to 10.0106cellsper milliliter (actual concentration in the tested cell suspension). The time needed to perform the microplate counting was 10% of that needed for the microscopic enumeration. However, this microplate counting method can only be used on genetically stable cell lines and on asynchronous cell suspensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissected leaves in Papaveraceae­Eschscholzioideae have an architecture frequently encountered in the basal eudicot clade Ranunculales that could represent an ancestral condition for eudicots. Developmental morphology of foliage leaves was investigated using scanning electron microscopy and focusing on primordium formation activity (primary morphogenesis) at the leaf margin. Eschscholzia californica, E. lobii, and Hunnemannia fumariaefolia had a polyternate-acropetal mode of leaf dissection. Segment formation continued around the whole leaf blade periphery. Differences in mature leaf architecture was traced to variations in regional blastozone activity and duration. Epidermal cell size measurements in E. californica indicated that the leaf tip tissue starts to differentiate already at the onset of organogenic activity and that tip cells remain larger than epidermal cells at the basal margins during further growth. It is argued that early differentiation of the tip does not set up a general basipetal differentiation gradient, but is a local effect that allows acropetal pinna initiation to occur in subapical blastozones. In Dendromecon, secondarily entire leaves have evolved through the loss of primordium formation activity. Marginal corrugations found in Dendromecon form late in development and are not reminiscent of lateral primordia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three chromatographic methods have been employed for the determination of hydrophilic compounds, namely carbohydrates and organic acids in herbal dry extracts of Eschscholtzia californica Cham. The hydrophilic compounds were separated from the other components of the dry extracts by solid-phase extraction methods, which were optimised with respect to recovery rates. Carbohydrates were quantified using high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection. Organic acids were analysed by ion-exclusion chromatography with evaporative light scattering detection and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Using the latter method, large amounts of glyceric acid were separated from the extracts of Eschscholtzia californica Cham. This substance together with sugars may be responsible for the increased hygroscopicity and the poor processing behaviour of the extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of both biologically and chemically origins trigger various physiological and metabolic processes through interaction with plant cells, exerting positive, negative and inconsequential effects. However, their impacts on plant systems must be critically investigated to guarantee their safe application in food chain. In this study, the effects of chemically synthesized (synthetic) AgNPs (sAgNPs) and biologically synthesized (biogenic) AgNPs (bAgNPs) on physiological and biochemical features of Eschscholzia californica Cham were evaluated at different concentrations (0, 10, 25, 50 and 100 mg L -1 ). Plants exposed to bAgNPs (at 10 and 25 mg L -1 ) and sAgNPs (at 10 mg L -1 ) displayed relatively uniform deposition of AgNPs on leaf surface, however, the higher concentration (100 mg L -1 ) was accompanied by aggregation of AgNPs, resulting in anatomical and physiological disorders. Foliar application of both AgNPs at lower concentrations resulted in significant (P < 0.01) improve in the content of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls a, b, a+b, and carotenoids) and total phenolics over the control in a dose-related manner. Leaf relative water content decreased steadily with increasing both sAgNPs and bAgNPs concentrations-with sAgNPs being more inhibitive. Both types of AgNPs at 100 mg L -1 significantly (P < 0.05) increased electrolyte leakage index, level of lipid peroxidation product (malondialdehyde), and leaf soluble sugar content when compared to controls. No significant difference was found on cell membrane stability index among the plants exposed to bAgNPs and sAgNPs at the lowest concentration over the control. Californidine content was significantly (P < 0.01, by 45.1%) increased upon all the bAgNPs treatments (with a peak at 25 mg L -1 ) relative to control. The obtained extracts from plants treated with bAgNPs at lower concentrations revealed a significant induction of antioxidant capacity (based on DPPH˙ free radical scavenging and ferrous ions-chelating activities) with lower IC 50 values compared to the other treatments. Conclusively, bAgNPs at lower concentrations are potent elicitors of pharmaceutically active compounds biosynthesis, which enhance physiological efficiency of E. californica, but at higher concentrations bAgNPs are equally toxic as sAgNPs., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In twelve populations of Eschscholzia californica from central Chile, where it was introduced in the latter part of the 19th century, there is a regular gradient in frequency of the alleles J and j, which control orange vs. yellow flowers, ranging from a maximum value of 0.531 to a minimum of 0.160 for J. Populations having higher values of J occupy more mesic sites. In addition, the great majority of the populations have significant excess of heterozygotes over those expected on the basis of the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and so exhibit balanced polymorphism for the J-j pair of alleles, probably associated with heterosis of Jj genotypes. Evidence is presented which suggests that this locus serves as a marker for adaptative gene complexes rather than being itself associated with adaptation. In Chile, the association of JJ genotypes with cooler, moister habitats is the opposite of the condition existing in California, and suggests that extensive reorganization of the gene pool, through changed linkage relationships, took place as E. californica populations were being established in Chile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an experiment of the population regulation of Eschscholzia californica, the California poppy, that grows naturally in western North America and from the coast of California into the Great Basin. In the experiment, poppy seeds produced on given soil types were grown on the soils of their origin and on foreign soils. The seeds of Eschscholzia were gathered from perennial plants growing wild in the studied areas. It reveals that perennial races of Eschscholzia are normally found in sites with abundance of ground water.