Stylophorum diphyllum, commonly called the celandine-poppy or woods-poppy, is an herbaceous plant in the poppy family. It is native to North America, where it is found in the eastern United States and Ontario. Its typical natural habitat is moist forests over calcareous rock, particularly in ravines. It is occasionally cultivated for its bright yellow flowers. The common name is derived from greater celandine, a closely related European plant with similar flowers and leaves.
Description
Stylophorum diphyllum is an herbaceous perennial. It grows to about tall, from underground rhizomes. Leaves are pinnatelycut and lobed. They grow from the base of the plant, and in a pair at the top of the flowering stems. Apart from its normal sap, Stylophorum diphyllum produces a yellow-orange latex that stains. In spring, the deep yellow flowers of the celandine poppy appear as a brilliant display on the forest floor. The flowers have 4 yellow petals, two soon-falling sepals, many yellow-orange stamens, and a single knobby stigma. They appear singly or in umbels of two to four flowers from early spring to early summer. The flowers issue from between a pair of leaves at the top of the flowering stems. They produce pollen, but no nectar. After fertilization, a bristly blue-green pod hangs below the leaves. Seeds with white elaiosomes ripen in midsummer and the pod opens by four flaps.
Propagation
Propagation is done by seed or by dividing established clumps in spring. It grows best in moist, high-humus soil, and prefers to be in the shade. Division should be done early in the morning, preferably on a cloudy and mild day. Plants are relatively long lived and readily self-seed under garden conditions.
Conservation
Stylophorum diphyllum is a conservative species, and is somewhat uncommon throughout its range. Forest clearance is responsible for the loss of some stands of this species. As the wood poppy requires semi-shaded conditions, even selective logging can have negative effects by creating large openings that allow too much sun to reach the forest floor. Due to its limited distribution in Canada, it is listed under Ontario's Endangered Species Act, 2007, which protects the species and its habitat. One Ontario population of the wood poppy is in a conservation area.
