Papaver pygmaeum

Papaver pygmaeum
Papaver pygmaeum in Glacier National Park
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Ranunculales
Family:	Papaveraceae
Genus:	Papaver
Species:	P. pygmaeum
Binomial name
Papaver pygmaeum Rydb.

Papaver pygmaeum is a species of poppy known by the common name alpine glacier poppy. It is native to North America, where it can be found in British Columbia, Alberta, and Montana. It has a narrow distribution around the intersection of the three borders. There are about 23 known occurrences, mostly in Montana, with some in Alberta and one in British Columbia. ^[1] It is present in a number of locations within Glacier National Park. ^[2]

This perennial herb produces a stem up to 12 centimeters tall from a taproot. The blue-green leaves are up to 5 centimeters long. The flower is about 2 centimeters wide. The petals are yellow, orange-pink, or orange with a yellow spot. The fruit is a rough-haired capsule about 1.5 centimeters long. ^[3] Blooming occurs in July and August. ^[2]

This plant grows in high mountain habitat in alpine climates. It grows on rocky terrain such as talus and fell fields. ^[2]

References

1. Papaver pygmaeum. Archived 2022-09-22 at the Wayback Machine The Nature Conservancy.
2. Williams, Tara Y. 1990. Papaver pygmaeum. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.
3. Papaver pygmaeum. Flora of North America.