Editing Eschscholzia californica (section)

===Taxonomy===
[[File:Three late-seasom poppies (41645205590).jpg|thumb|''E. californica subsp. californica var. maritima''  ]]
''Eschscholzia californica'' was the first named species of the genus ''Eschscholzia'', named by the German botanist [[Adelbert von Chamisso]] after the Baltic German botanist [[Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz]], his friend and colleague on [[Otto von Kotzebue]]'s scientific expedition to California and the greater [[Pacific coast|Pacific]] circa 1810 aboard the Russian ship ''[[Rurik]]''.

California poppy is highly variable, with over 90 [[synonym (taxonomy)|synonyms]]. Some [[botanists]] accept two [[subspecies]]—one with four [[variety (biology)|varieties]] (e.g., {{harvnb|Leger|Rice|2003}})—though others do not recognize them as distinct (e.g., {{harvnb|Jepson|1993}}):
*''E. californica'' subsp. ''californica'', native to California, Baja California, and Oregon, widely planted as an ornamental, and an invasive elsewhere (see below).
**''E. californica'' subsp. ''californica'' var. ''californica'', which is found along the coast from the [[San Francisco Peninsula]] north. They are perennial and somewhat prostrate, with yellow flowers.
**''E. californica'' subsp. ''californica'' var. ''maritima'' ([[Edward Lee Greene|E. L. Greene]]) [[Willis Linn Jepson|Jeps]]., which is found along the coast from [[Monterey, California|Monterey]] south to [[San Miguel Island]]. They are perennial, long-lived, glaucous, short in stature, and have extremely prostrate growth and yellow flowers.
**''E. californica'' subsp. ''californica'' var. ''crocea'' ([[George Bentham|Benth.]]) Jeps., which grows in non-arid inland regions. They are perennial, taller, and have orange flowers.
**''E. California'' subsp. ''californica'' var. ''peninsularis'' (E. L. Greene) [[Philip Alexander Munz|Munz]], which is an annual or facultative annual growing in arid inland environments.
*''E. californica'' subsp. ''mexicana'' ([[Edward Lee Greene|E. L. Greene]]) and Curtis Clark, the ''Mexican gold poppy'', which is found in the [[Chihuahuan Desert|Chihuahuan]] and [[Sonoran Desert]]s. Some authorities refer to it as ''E. Mexicana.''<ref>[http://www.public.asu.edu/~camartin/plants/Plant%20html%20files/eschscholziamexicana.html  ''Eschscholzia mexicana''] at Arizona State University</ref><ref name="Still-2013">{{cite journal |last1=Still |first1=Shannon M. |last2=Potter |first2=Daniel |title=California Poppy Conundrums: Insights into Relationships within Tribe Eschscholtzieae (Papaveraceae) |journal=Systematic Botany |date=2013 |volume=38 |issue=1 |pages=104–117 |doi=10.1600/036364413X661872 |jstor=23362741 |s2cid=84687122 }}</ref> These variations in features among Eschscholzia species have led to inconsistencies in species descriptions and identifications. This variation, both within and between species, triggered a surge in Eschscholzia species descriptions, reaching 112 taxa in the early part of the last century.<ref name="Still-2013" /> Currently, there are 189 taxonomic descriptions at the species level and below, with 159 type specimens scattered across global herbaria.<ref name="Still-2013" /> The shift in recognizing poppy species, known as the "[[Green Revolution|Greene Revolution]]", initiated a significant reduction in recognized species.<ref>Edward W. Greene, "''Why the Eschscholtzia?''" The San Francisco Examiner, December 21, 1890, Newspapers.com</ref> Willis Lynn [[Willis Linn Jepson|Jepson]] played a pivotal role by considering the majority of described taxa as mere environmental variations.<ref>Jepson, W.L. (1922). "''A Flora of California''". Berkeley, California: Published by the author.</ref> In his book ''A Flora of California'', published in 1922, he consolidated many of the taxa into ''Eschscholtzia californica'' and reduced the total number of taxa within the greater ''Eschscholtzia'' genus from around 120 to 12.<ref name="Cook-2021">{{Cite web |last=Cook |first=Anjie J. |date=2021-08-17 |title=A Profusion of Poppy Confusion |website=UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden |url=https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/news/profusion-of-poppy-confusion |access-date=2023-10-25 |language=en}}</ref>

Botanical research has held significant implications towards the classification of ''Eschscholzia''. Despite some unresolved aspects in the phylogenies, it is evident that taxonomic are necessary within the genus, particularly in three areas: supporting two subspecies of ''E. californica'', endorsing two subspecies of ''E. lemmonii'', and recognizing two potential new taxa.<ref name="Still-2013" /> Currently, 8 taxa are officially recognized.<ref name="Cook-2021" />

It belongs to the subfamily ''Eschscholzioideae'', sister group to the subfamily ''Papaveroideae'' (which includes ''[[Papaver somniferum]]'', the opium poppy).<ref name="Becker-2023">{{Cite journal |last=Becker |first=Annette |date=March 2, 2023 |title=California poppy (Eschscholzia californica), the Papaveraceae golden girl model organism for evodevo and specialized metabolism |journal=Frontiers in Plant Science |volume=14 |doi=10.3389/fpls.2023.1084358 |pmid=36938015 |pmc=10017456 |doi-access=free }}</ref>