Romneya

{{short description|Genus of flowering plants in the poppy family Papaveraceae}}

{{Automatic taxobox

|name = Matilija poppy

|image = Matilija poppy closeup.jpg

|image_caption = Matilija poppy flower and flower bud.

|display_parents = 2

|taxon = Romneya

|authority = Harv.

|subdivision_ranks = Species

|subdivision =

• Romneya coulteri
• Romneya trichocalyx

}}

Romneya ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|ɒ|m|n|i|ə}})Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607 is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the poppy family (Papaveraceae). There are two species in the genus Romneya, which was named for Irish astronomer John Thomas Romney Robinson.[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?5547,5597 Jepson Manual Treatment] They are known commonly as Matilija poppies ({{IPAc-en|m|ə|ˈ|t|ɪ|l|ᵻ|h|ɑː}} {{respell|mə|TIL|i|hah}}), bush poppies, California poppies, or tree poppies.{{Cite web |title=Romneya coulteri {{!}} Californian tree poppy Herbaceous Perennial/RHS |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/21715/romneya-coulteri/details |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=www.rhs.org.uk |language=en-gb}} The common name "Matilija" is said to come from the Chumash leader, Chief Matilija. They are also known as the "fried egg flower" or the "fried egg plant" due to their bright yellow stamen, which creates the image of a sunny-side-up egg.Gutierrez, Mary (2013), [http://www.northwestgardennews.com/id152.html Matilija Poppy]. In Northwest Garden News, online edition. accessed 5 July 2013. They are native to chaparral and coastal scrub habitats in Southern California and Baja California.{{Cite web |title=Matilija Poppy {{!}} San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants |url=https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/plants/matilija-poppy |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=animals.sandiegozoo.org}} They are also known to do well in Britain.{{Cite book |last=Lack |first=Andrew |url=https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Lq0hDgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT23&dq=Romneya+poppy&ots=HTsF-5k4IQ&sig=FVVraiqbnNMSJsy9y4VUPhuY2ys#v=onepage&q=Romneya%20poppy&f=false |title=Poppy |date=2016-11-15 |publisher=Reaktion Books |isbn=978-1-78023-700-8 |language=en}}

They are perennial subshrubs with woody stems. They may grow to a height of {{convert|2.5|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}} and a width of {{convert|1|m|in|abbr=on}}, with the flowers up to {{convert|13|cm|in|abbr=on}} across. The silvery green leaves are deeply cut, with a small fringe of hairs at the margins.

They are notable for their large, satiny white flowers and intense boss of yellow stamens, blooming in late spring and summer.{{Cite web |title=Matilija Poppy |url=https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=57358 |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=ANR Blogs |language=en-us}} Their thin white petals have a satiny crepe-like texture. Romneya produce the largest flowers of any members of the poppy family.[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=128724 Flora of North America] These flowers prefer a warm, sunny spot against a south-facing wall with fertile soil with good water drainage.{{Cite book |last=Lack |first=Andrew |url=https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Lq0hDgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT23&dq=Romneya+poppy&ots=HTsF-5k4IQ&sig=FVVraiqbnNMSJsy9y4VUPhuY2ys#v=onepage&q=Romneya%20poppy&f=false |title=Poppy |date=2016-11-15 |publisher=Reaktion Books |isbn=978-1-78023-700-8 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Romneya coulteri {{!}} Californian tree poppy Herbaceous Perennial/RHS |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/21715/romneya-coulteri/details |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=www.rhs.org.uk |language=en-gb}} They are not easily grown but once established are difficult to remove. In the wild, they are known as "fire followers" because they need smoke to germinate{{Cite web |title=Plant of the Month Page |url=https://smmtc.org/plantofthemonth/Matilija_Poppy.php |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=Santa Monica Mountains Trails Council |language=en}} and can be frequently, but not exclusively, found in burned areas.Quinn, Ronald D. and Keeley, Sterling, C. (2006). Introduction to California Chaparral. Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 145. When these flowers are grown on a hillside, they can act as a soil binder and prevent erosion. Matilija poppies were reportedly used medicinally by the Chumash to treat skin and gum problems, and stomach aches.{{Cite web |title=Plant of the Month Page |url=https://smmtc.org/plantofthemonth/Matilija_Poppy.php |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=Santa Monica Mountains Trails Council |language=en}}

Image:Matilija poppy whole.jpg, San Francisco]]

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.