California poppy seed

A FEW THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA POPPY SEED.

Society: The California state flower, it’s best known as “california poppy” and less known by its scientific name, Eschscholtzia californica. It is also known as the flame flower, la amapola, and copa de oro (cup of gold), the “california poppy seed” grows wild throughout the state of California. It became the state flower in 1903. Every year on April the sixth is California Poppy Day, the late Governor Wilson proclaimed May 13 to May 18, the poppy week. It is also used as a flower, in the annual contest of floral arrengements, where you can find the most creative and original. The most remembered one, in 1997, Pasadena was the venue, was a complete house fully covered with poppies on the outside and from inside with a lot of very, very creative floral arrengements and poppy seeds arrengements, even the walls were decorated with paintings of california poppies!.

History: Native american indians assessed the california poppy for being a source of food and for the oil extracted from the plant. Its scientific and botanical name, Eschsholtzia californica, was given by Adelbert Von Chamisso, a naturalist and member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences, who arrived and established himself in San Francisco in 1816 with a fascinating bay’s view of hills and hills carpeted with these golden flowers.

Botanical characteristics: The california poppy seed is categorized as Eschsholzia californica. Its seeds are sowed in cool climates and they are considered as annual plants, though in warmer ones, they behave like tender perennials. They, too, like to remain in one place, and do best when planted directly in the garden. Hardy perennial to 20º F (-6.7º C). Once the California poppy seed has become a plant its “technical” characteristics are the following: Brilliant orange single blooms close in the evening and sometimes on cloudy days. This Plant is uniform and productive and drought tolerant. Full sun; height: 18 inches.

Food: The california poppy seed is also used in some dishes such as: noodles, fish, cakes, studels, fruit and vegetables salads as a dressing in some international cuisines: Indian, Moghlai, German, Jewish and Slavic. Its seeds are also used for cooking because it has edible oil. These are more than enough reasons to keep California poppy seeds in your kitchen.

Medicine: Due to its medicinal properties, the california poppy seed is used: as a source of calcium (a mineral that must be consumed because the human body can not produce it by itself) and phosphorus (a mineral with poisonous properties), it would be desairable to be used by pregnant and lacting women, otherwise children would catch rickets and women would catch osteoporosis, this poppy contains great levels of proteins too. This poppy is also used as a medicinal treatment in diseases such as: dry itch, insomnia, sleeplessness, dysentery, and dehydration.