Rusty Popcornflower: The 29th Flower of Spring!

[best appreciated at full size against black]

Here is one of my favorite springtime flowers, the beautiful little Popcornfower! (I don't know why, but this plant's name is spelled as I've written it, though I really want to spell it as Popcorn Flower!)

Popcornflowers are part of a genus that includes over 65 species, most of which grow all over North and South America, and more than 15 are found in California alone! Surprisingly, there are 5 species known in Australia! These joyful little blossoms are usually white with yellow centers but some species bear yellow flowers. I have always thought the blossoms look very similar to Forget-Me-Nots, a flower that grows on Mt. Davidson behind my childhood home in San Francisco. One of the features of this flower that I love so much is the fern-frond-like unfurling of their blossoms. I will be posting a picture of how this looks in the next few days! :)

If you'd like to know more about popcornflowers, Wiki has a page here: Popcorn Flower (Plagiobothrys)
I also found a fascinating page all about popcorn flowers with amazing close-ups that will surely make you say WOW!!! Popcorn Flowers on Wayne's Word

This image was taken in March, 2012.