Common name: Hairy Matilija Poppy, Bristly Matilija Poppy, Matilija Poppy, Matilda Poppy, Californian Tree Poppy
Romneya trichocalyx Eastw. APNI* Synonyms: Romneya coulteri var. trichocalyx (Eastw.) Jeps. APNI*
Description: Subshrub to shrub to 2.5 (-3) m high, rhizomatous, suckering with rather fleshy, erect branched stems.
Leaves shortly petiolate, ovate with 3–5 main segments which are occasionally further lobed or divided, to c. 10 cm long, grey-green, sparsely hairy.
Pedicels bristly below the flower, sepals with adpressed bristles. Flowers solitary, showy, to 16 cm across; petals 6, white; stamens numerous, yellow.
Capsule 2.5–4 cm across, covered in appressed bristles; seeds tiny, numerous.
Flowering: spring – summer (recorded December).
Distribution and occurrence: native of California and Mexico. In New South Wales occasionally cultivated; naturalised record from south of Yerong Creek. Previously recorded as naturalised at Jindera; however, the plant was cultivated. Recorded growing along roadside near railway line.
NSW subdivisions: *SWS
Other Australian states: *W.A.
Romneya trichocalyx differs from closely related R. coulteri in having narrower leaf segments, more slender stems, buds adorned with appressed bristles close to the apex (hairy sepals), and smaller flowers and fruits.
Text by B.M. Wiecek (2001), based on The European Garden Flora Vol 4: 105 (1995) and Poppies, The Poppy Family in the Wild and in Cultivation 233-234 (2000); revised by P.G. Kodela, April 2017
Taxon concept: Australian Plant Census (accessed April 2017)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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