Fauna
Plant · GBIF taxon 2888466

Celandine Poppy

Stylophorum diphyllum

Also known as Wood Poppy, Yellow Poppy, Celandine Wood Poppy

Celandine poppies emerge early each spring to carpet moist deciduous woodlands with brilliant, four-petaled yellow blossoms. Their deeply lobed, pale blue-green foliage provides a lush backdrop for fuzzy, nodding seed pods that develop as summer approaches. When broken, the stems yield a bright yellow latex sap rich in defensive alkaloids, helping protect the plant from browsing herbivores.

Spring EphemeralYellow BloomWoodland Wildflower
Celandine Poppy reference
Licensed referenceWikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Bee Pollinators
  • Hoverflies
  • Soil Nutrients
Predators
  • White-Tailed Deer
  • Slugs
  • Snails
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, invasive garlic mustard, overgrazing by deer
HabitatsMoist deciduous forests, rich ravine slopes, limestone woodlands
Life spanPerennial (10–20 years)
Classification
  1. OrderRanunculales
  2. FamilyPapaveraceae
  3. GenusStylophorum
  4. SpeciesStylophorum diphyllum
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Contains toxic isoquinoline alkaloids; do not ingest and wash skin after touching broken stems.
Why it is dangerous
Yellow latex sap contains isoquinoline alkaloids that cause nausea, vomiting, and oral irritation if consumed.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for deeply lobed blue-green leaves, four yellow petals, and hairy, egg-shaped drooping seed pods.
What to do
Wash skin with soap and water if yellow sap makes contact, and keep pets from chewing foliage.
Responsible observation
  • Spring Timing: Look for four-petaled yellow flowers blooming in rich woods from April through May.
  • Observe Seed Pods: Check mature plants in late spring for fuzzy, drooping seed pods.
  • Latex Caution: Avoid snapping stems, as the bright yellow sap can stain clothing and irritate sensitive skin.
Related species
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