UNITED STATES, California: Riverside County, just south of entrance sign to Joshua Tree National Park heading north on Cottonwood Springs Road from US Interstate-10, [33°41.188'N, 115°48.103'W], 610 m alt., 14 Feb 2008, Shannon M. Still 258A with Jennifer Still and Charles Still (holotype: DAV!).

Eschscholzia androuxii is similar to Eschscholzia minutiflora subsp. twisselmannii C. Clark & M. Faull but with ultimate lobes of the dissected leaves more numerous and narrower than Eschscholzia minutiflora subsp. twisselmannii. Eschscholzia androuxii is similar to Eschscholzia minutiflora subsp. minutiflora S. Watson and Eschscholzia minutiflora subsp. covillei (E. Greene) C. Clark but with larger flowers and consistently appearing, pronounced black-blue or darkened anthocyanin area or spot basipetally located on the fused filament bases of the stamens. Eschscholzia androuxii differs from Eschscholzia papastillii and Eschscholzia parishii with the aforementioned stamen spot and basal foliage that appears more compact in habit.

Annual herb, erect or spreading with a basal rosette of leaves from a taproot. Leaves highly ternately-dissected into a great number of ultimate lobes, which may number to 100 on larger specimens. Leaves glaucous-green with ultimate lobes more rounded than pointed. Basal leaves are 3–11 cm long and 0.8–3.2 cm wide and held on a petiole comprising 2/3 the entire leaf length. Younger plants will have fewer ultimate lobes and shorter, narrower leaves. Inflorescence with few flowers held above the foliage and to 4 dm above the ground. Leaves on the inflorescence are 2–20 mm long and are divided into 2–23 ultimate lobes. Buds nodding and 4.5–11.5 mm long with an apiculate bud tip less than 25% of the total bud length. Less mature buds may be shorter than average with a longer bud tip by percentage. Flowers held upright and are yellow with four petals 10.5–23 mm long. Each flower has 20–36 stamens fused at the base. There is a darkened area or patch, often black-blue, located at the fused filament bases of the stamens. Receptacles obconic and 2.5–5.5 mm long and 1.1–3 mm wide and often have a scarious inner hyaline rim. Fruit 3.5–6.5 cm long with 10–12 nerves, dehiscing at maturity. Seeds with reticulate ridges.

Figure 1.

Illustrations of leaves, buds and flowers of Eschscholzia androuxii. A Basal leaf B Cauline leaf C Bud D Petal E Stamens showing diagnostic anthocyanin spot at base of the fused filaments.

Figure 2.

Photographs of Eschscholzia androuxii. A Species profile shot B Species profile shot C Eschscholzia androuxii in the type area in a heavy-flowering year.

Figure 3.

Distribution map showing the range for the two new Eschscholzia. Eschscholzia androuxii is represented by right-slanting cross-hatching. Eschscholzia papastillii is represented by left-slanting cross-hatching.

(Fig. 3). Found in and around Joshua Tree National Park in both Riverside and San Bernardino counties of California.

Desert washes, flats, and slopes in coarse, sandy soil.

Eschscholzia androuxii typically flowers between late-February and early-May but may flower earlier in the season, including in the fall, during years with a summer rain and cool fall temperatures.

The species is named for James André and Tasha La Doux, two desert botanists and friends that helped point to the problems with desert Eschscholzia identification.

Joshua Tree poppy.

As this is a new taxon it has yet to be considered for conservation status. Due to the limited range and low number of occurrences, the author suggests the California Native Plant Society consider this taxon for listing as a rare plant.

U.S.A. California: Riverside Co.: White Water, Apr 1907, S.B. Parish 6103 (DS!); slope of hill at west side of mouth of Whitewater Canyon, 18 Mar 1962, D.W. Kyhos 62-43 (DS!); Cottonwood Pass, Joshua Tree National Monument, 19 Mar 1949, C. Francis Shutts 58 (ASU!, DES!); Coachella Valley, Desert Hot Springs, N of intersection of Pierson Blvd. and Atlantic, north of flood control ditch, 6 Apr 2001, A.C. Sanders, Mitch Provance & T.B. Salvato 23939 (DES!); Joshua Tree National Park, [33°41.18333'N, 115°48.1'W], 15 Feb 2008, Shannon M. Still, Jennifer R. Still, & Charles M. Still 258B (DAV!); id., Cottonwood Wash on west side of road, [33°41.21299'N, 115°48.15100'W], 22 Feb 2009, Shannon M. Still 444 (DAV!); id., [33°41.833'N, 115°48.17598'W], 3 Mar 2009, Shannon M. Still & Robert Lee 457 (DAV!); id., [33°50.22799'N, 115°45.174'W], 28 Mar 2009, Shannon M. Still, Steven M. Still & Carolyn M. Still 512 (DAV!); San Bernardino Co.: 1.4 mi N of Yucca Valley on road to Lucerne Valley. About 19 mi west of town of Twentynine Palms, 6 Apr 1957, John H. Thomas 6627 (DS!).

This new taxon has a darkened area basipetally located on the stamen filaments (Fig. 1e), which are fused at the base. Eschscholzia minutiflora subsp. twisselmannii also has regularly occurring stamen spots, but only on approximately 70% of specimens examined. No other closely related taxa have these stamen spots. The flower size for this new species is similar to that of the diploid Eschscholzia minutiflora subsp. twisselmannii but larger than both the hexaploid Eschscholzia minutiflora subsp. minutiflora and the tetraploid Eschscholzia minutiflora subsp. covillei. The petal size for Eschscholzia minutiflora subsp. covillei, described in Flora of North America as 6–18 mm long, does overlap with the petal size of Eschscholzia androuxii, with petals 10–23 mm long. But more recent morphological study of the genus (Still 2011, Still in preparation) indicates that the petals in Eschscholzia minutiflora subsp. covillei range from 4.5–12.5 mm. The reason for this discrepancy may be that some of the larger-flowered Eschscholzia minutiflora subsp. covillei specimens are actually the new taxon, Eschscholzia androuxii. The Joshua Tree poppy has an overlapping range with several species but is found only in Riverside Co. and the southern part of San Bernardino Co. and not much further north or south of Joshua Tree National Park. The range does not overlap, and there are more basal leaf ultimate lobes, than with Eschscholzia minutiflora subsp. twisselmannii. The tips of the basal leaf ultimate lobes are more rounded (Fig. 1a) than what is found in either Eschscholzia parishii or Eschscholzia papastillii (Fig. 4a), and Eschscholzia androuxii has three times the number of cauline leaf ultimate lobes (Fig. 1b) as these two taxa.

UNITED STATES, California: Riverside County, Joshua Tree National Park next to stone outcropping off Old Dale Road. [33°50.232'N, 115°45.12'W], 724 m alt., 19 Apr 2009, Shannon M. Still 546A (holotype: DAV!).

Eschscholzia papastillii is similar to Eschscholzia parishii Greene but with more basal leaf ultimate lobes and more broadly spreading leaves. Eschscholzia papastillii has an enlarged receptacle (Fig. 4d) that is widely-obconic or bell-shaped, and wider at the midpoint of the receptacle than Eschscholzia parishii, Eschscholzia androuxii or any of the subspecies of Eschscholzia minutiflora, which are usually more obconic or funnel-shaped. The expanded receptacular rim of Eschscholzia papastillii is similar, but typically smaller, than the expanded receptacular rim of Eschscholzia californica. Eschscholzia papastillii differs from Eschscholzia androuxii and Eschscholzia minutiflora with basal foliage that appears less compact in habit.

Annual herb, erect or spreading with a basal rosette of leaves from a taproot. Leaves highly ternately-dissected into 17–70 ultimate lobes with the higher number on larger specimens. Leaves glaucous-green to green with ultimate lobes more pointed than rounded. Basal leaves are 2.7–16 cm long and 0.9–7 cm wide and held on a petiole comprising 2/3 the entire leaf length. Younger plants have few basal leaf ultimate lobes and shorter, narrower leaves. Inflorescence with few flowers held above the foliage and to 5 dm above the ground. Leaves on the inflorescence are 3–50 mm long and are divided into 1–13 ultimate lobes. Buds nodding to erect and 2.5–16 mm long with an apiculate bud tip greater than 30% of the total bud length. Less mature buds may be shorter than average with a longer bud tip by percentage. Flowers held upright and are yellow with four petals 5–24 mm long. Each flower has 12–32 stamens fused at the base. Receptacles widely-obconic or funnel-shaped to nearly bell-shaped, 3–9 mm long and 1.5–4.7 mm wide. Receptacular rim typically noticeable and often thick but can be scarious, expanded laterally up to 1.2 mm from the top of the receptacle. The receptacle often has a scarious inner hyaline rim in addition to the outer rim diagnostic of the species. Fruit 4–8 cm long with 10–12 nerves, dehiscing at maturity. Seeds with reticulate ridges.

Figure 4.

Illustrations of leaves, buds and flowers of Eschscholzia papastillii. A Basal leaf B Cauline leaf C Bud showing widened receptacle D Enlarged receptacle with expanded receptacular rim common in the species E Petal F Stamens lacking the anthocyanin spot at base of the fused filaments common to Eschscholzia androuxii.

Figure 5.

Photographs of Eschscholzia papastillii. A Species profile shot B Buds with enlarged receptacle common in the species C Flower with enlarged receptacle common in the species D Species profile shot.

(Fig. 3). Found north to the northern Mojave Desert; south into northern Colorado Desert of San Diego Co., and possibly south along the east side of the Sea of Cortez in Mexico; east to the California-Arizona border (Whipple Mountains); west to the western end of Joshua Tree National Park.

Desert washes, flats, and gentle slopes in coarse, sandy soil.

Eschscholzia papastillii typically flowers between late-February and early-May but may flower earlier in the season, and in the fall, during years with a summer rain and cool fall temperatures.

The species is named in honor of Dr. Steven Still, my father and mentor and the reason for which I study plants.

Cryptic desert poppy.

As this is a new taxon it has yet to be considered for conservation status. Due to the range and number of occurrences the author does not suggests this taxon be considered for conservation status.

U.S.A. California: Kern Co.: Hidden Springs Rd., 6 May 1930, Lester Rowntree s.n. (CAS!); Riverside Co.: Painted Canyon, 4 Mar 1922, Edmund C. Jaeger s.n. (DS!); Painted Canyon, 12 Apr 1927, Frank W. Peirson 7167 (CAS!); near Shavers Well, 6 Apr 1930, R.A. Piebles and H.F. Loomis 188 (DS!); Box Canyon, Coachella Valley, 21 Mar 1937, Ynez Whilton Winblad s.n. (CAS!); Coachella Valley, 21 Mar 1937, Ynez Whilton Winblad s.n. (CAS!); east slope of Chocolate Mnts, 22 Mar 1937, Ynez Whilton Winblad s.n. (CAS!); above Cottonwood Springs, west end of Eagle Mnts, 13 Apr 1949, Philip A. Munz 13056 (CAS!); Road to Morongo Valley, 7.8 mi from junction with Highway 99/60/70, 14 Apr 1952, Richard Snow (DS!); Box Canyon, 5 Apr 1953, Richard Snow 51a (DS!); 0.8 mi east of Cactus City, 13 mi east of Coachella, near U.S. Highways 60 and 70. Colorado Desert, 30 Mar 1957, John H. Thomas 6523A (DS!); U.S. Highway 60/70, Indio to Blythe, 1 mi. W of Cactus City, 29 Apr 1958, P.C. Everett and E.K. Balls 23013 (CAS!, DAV!); East of Indio on Highway 60/70, about 6 mi west of Cactus City, 15 Mar 1960, W.R. Ernst 720 (CAS!); Mecca-Joshua Tree Road, 7 miles southwest of junction with Interstate Highway 10, 13 Apr 1976, Curtis Clark 527 (DAV!); 2 mi S.E. of Desert Center, 1 Jul 1981, J.C. Roos s.n. (ASU!, CAS!); wash along Eagle Mountain Rd., north along I-10, 3 Mar 1995, John Wear s.n. (DAV!); Joshua Tree National Park, [33°43.68999'N, 115°49.317'W], 14 Feb 2008, Shannon M. Still 253 with Jennifer R. Still, Charles M. Still (DAV!); id., [33°55.012'N, 115°52.60305'W], 3 Mar 2009, Shannon M. Still 452 with Robert Lee (DAV!); id., [33°50.22799'N, 115°45.174'W], 28 Mar 2009, Shannon M. Still 513 with Steven M. Still, Carolyn M. Still (DAV!); San Bernardino Co.: Sheephole Mnts., 8 Apr 1935, P.A. Munz 13823 (DS!); Cave Spring, Lower Sonoran zone, 16 Apr 1940, C.L. Hitchcock 6073 (DS!); Bristol Lake Basin 8.8 mi N. of summit of Sheephole Pass on Amboy Rd., 16 Mar 2001, A.C. Sanders, Mitch Provance & Petra Wester 23753 (CAS!); Sheephole Pass just to south of the top of the pass, [34°13.711'N, 115°43.19599'W], 25 Nov 2007, Shannon M. Still 222A (DAV!); Base of Old Dad Mountains in wash, [34°44.512'N, 115°45.081'W], 26 Nov 2007, Shannon M. Still, Jim André & Tasha La Doux 248 (DAV!); Base of Old Dad Mountains in wash, [34°44.512'N, 115°45.082'W], 6 Apr 2008, Shannon M. Still & Steven M. Still 377A (DAV!); Clipper Mountains, just off the pipeline road, [34°40.573'N, 115°22.73502'W], 18 Apr 2009, Shannon M. Still, Jim André, Jeff Galvin & Amy Toulsen 536 (DAV!).

While the buds of all desert Eschscholzia appear similar, those of Eschscholzia papastillii most resemble Eschscholzia parishii, as the bud tip is typically more than 25% of the total bud length. The receptacular rim is prominent in this species and Eschscholzia californica is the only other species that has a pronounced receptacular rim. The range of Eschscholzia papastillii extends from San Bernardino County south to northern Imperial County. Most collections of Eschscholzia parishii collected north of San Diego and Imperial Counties are likely the new Eschscholzia papastillii. Eschscholzia papastillii extends at least into easternmost San Bernardino County that contains the Whipple Mountains, and likely well into Arizona.