Wood-poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 9

Special Significance of the Species

The conspicuous, fleshy, oily, carunculate aril or elaiosome that forms a fringe on seeds of Stylophorum diphyllum appears to be attractive to ants (Gates, 1943; Nordhagen, 1959, Bowles, personal observation). The elaiosome of Stylophorum diphyllum was tested for total lipid content and found to be very rich in total lipids with the following make-up of fatty acids: palmitic acid 48%, oleic acid 41.9%, linoleic acid 5.2%, palioleic acid 1.9% and stearic acid 1.7% (Draper, pers. comm. 1997). Field experiments have shown that Stylophorum seeds are taken by ants, but are also predated by mice. Snails or slugs also sometimes remove the elaiosome (Bowles, unpublished data).

In general, members of the Papaveraceae are rich in alkaloids, some of which are important narcotics with both medicinal and poisonous properties (Ernst, 1962). The acrid sap which usually darkens on drying is an important characteristic of the family. According to Gunn and Seldin (1976) the root stocks and saffron-coloured juice of Stylophorum diphyllum have no recorded uses. Moerman (1998) does not list any native American ethnobotanical uses of Stylophorum.

The showy flowers of Stylophorum have attracted some attention as an ornamental plant. Once established, the plant does well in cultivation in shaded flower gardens, abundantly self-seeding to produce large stands. It was introduced to Europe as an ornamental in 1854 (Boynton, 1918) and is available in nurseries in southern Ontario.

Stylophorum diphyllum in Canada forms disjunct populations at the northern limit of its range. A number of other species found in southern Ontario have a similar distribution. Populations at the edge of a species range that are genetically distinct are important to the diversity of the species.

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