Papaver at high altitudes in the rocky mountains

In the Rocky Mountains south of the Yukon Territory there are two, possibly three,Papaver species at alpine elevations. The diploidP. pygmaeum Rydb. is found only in and around the Glacier-Waterton International Park. It is a member of thealpinum complex of sect.Scapiflora and linked to the EuropeanP. alpinum L. by a chain of taxa through inner Asia. The hexaploidP. kluanense D. Löve is an alpine representative of the circumpolarradicatum complex of the same section and occurs disjunct from Alaska and Yukon south to New Mexico. In the Uintah Mountains of Utah is a small population ofPapaver whose affiliation and rank within the sectionScapiflora is not yet established. It seems to be related most closely toP. pulvinatum A. Tolm. andP. alaskanum Hultén. A key to the taxa of this region is presented.