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Stylophorum diphyllum - (image 1 of 4)

Taxonomy

Family: Papaveraceae

Habitat

Moist, rich woods.

Associates

 Distribution

Western PA west to southern MI and WI, south to TN and AR.

Morphology

Rhizomatous perennial to 50 cm; sap saffron yellow. Leaves deeply lobed; basal leaves several on long petioles, thin, oblong to ovate, pinnately divided almost to the midvein into 5-7 lobed or toothed segments; cauline leaves 1 pair, smaller. Inflorescence terminal, umbelliform, few-flowered; flowers on erect pedicels 2-5 cm long; sepals 2, hairy; petals 4, bright yellow, 2-3 cm; style 1, well developed, about 1 cm. Fruit a bristly, ellipsoid capsule, 2-3 cm.

Notes

Flowers April to May

Wetland indicator: Upland

Resembles Chelidonium majus L., a somewhat weedy introduction from Eurasia. Chelidonium majus has smaller flowers, a short style, and an elongate-linear, glabrous, unilocular fruit 2-5 cm long.

Chelidonium majus - Habit

Chelidonium majus - flowers and fruit

References

Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY

Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.

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