''Romneya'' () is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s belonging to the poppy family (

Papaveraceae The Papaveraceae are an economically important family of about 42 genera and approximately 775 known species of flowering plants in the order Ranunculales, informally known as the poppy family. The family is cosmopolitan, occurring in temperat ...

). There are two species in genus ''Romneya'', which was named for Irish astronomer

John Thomas Romney Robinson John Thomas Romney Robinson FRS FRSE (23 April 1792 – 28 February 1882), usually referred to as Thomas Romney Robinson, was a 19th-century Irish astronomer and physicist. He was the longtime director of the Armagh Astronomical Observatory ...

. They are known commonly as Matilija poppies ( ) or tree poppies and are native to

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

and northern

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

. They are

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wid ...

subshrubs with woody stems. They may grow to a height of and a width of , with the flowers up to across. The silvery green leaves are deeply cut, with a small fringe of hairs at the margins. They are notable for their large white

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...

s with intense yellow centers, blooming in summer. ''Romneya'' produce the largest flowers of any members of the poppy family. These flowers prefer a warm, sunny spot and fertile

soil Soil, also commonly referred to as earth or dirt Dirt is an unclean matter, especially when in contact with a person's clothes, skin, or possessions. In such cases, they are said to become dirty. Common types of dirt include: * Debri ...

with good water drainage. They are not easily grown but once established are difficult to remove. In the wild, they are known as "fire followers" as they can be frequently, but not exclusively, found in burned areas. It is also known as the "fried egg flower" or "fried egg plant".Gutierrez, Mary (2013)
Matilija Poppy
In Northwest Garden News, online edition. accessed 5 July 2013. The two species are: *'' Romneya coulteri'' Harv. – Coulter's Matilija poppy *'' Romneya trichocalyx'' Eastw. – Bristly Matilija poppy. Some consider this a variety of ''Romneya coulteri'', but it is accepted in recent manuals.

References

External links

California Native Plant Society: ''Romneya coulteri''USDA Plants Profile
* {{Taxonbar, from=Q2535357 Papaveroideae Papaveraceae genera Flora of California Flora of Baja California