The Poppy is a showy flower in the Ranunculales Order (closely related to the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). Poppies have one stem crowned with a large flower. Most poppies produce poisonous alkaloids. The most notorious poppy is the Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) used to make pain killers and illicit drugs. The plant produces many small seeds which are sometimes found on bagels or in muffins.
The Poppy is the California State Flower (Eschscholzia californica) ... which can help explain California.