Canbya candida
A tiny annual herb in the Papaveraceae native to the western Mojave Desert of California, growing about 1–3 cm tall with 5–7 white petals and 6–9 stamens, blooming Apr–Jun on dry, sandy ground at 600–1200 m elevation, with conservation concern
Common Names
Pygmy Poppy, White Pygmypoppy, White Pygmy-Poppy
Summary
White pygmy-poppy is a tiny annual herb in Papaveraceae native to California deserts, especially the western Mojave Desert, growing 1–3 cm tall with leaves 5–9 mm long; inflorescences are axillary with a single flower bearing 5–7 white, elliptic petals (3–4 mm) that are marcescent, and 6–9 stamens with filaments shorter than anthers; capsules are 1.5–2.5 mm. It occurs on dry, sandy ground at elevations of 600–1200 m and flowers from Apr–Jun.
Conservation concern and restricted distribution characterize this California desert endemic, with occurrences in the western Mojave Desert; habitat is dry, sandy ground at 600–1200 m, with flowering Apr–Jun.
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
0.5-1.5 inches
Soil Type
Dry, sandy soil
Soil Drainage
Well-drained, dry, sandy ground
Bloom Color
White
Bloom Time
Spring (Apr–Jun)
Foliage Color
White
Fall Foliage Color
White
Growth Rate
Annual
Seasons of Interest
Spring and Summer
Propagation Methods
Seeds
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Parry ex A.Gray
- Publication
- Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 12: 51 (1877)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Ranunculales
- Family
- Papaveraceae
- Subfamily
- Papaveroideae
- Tribe
- Papavereae
- Genus
- Canbya