Glaucidium palmatum
English: Japanese wood poppy.
Synonym: Hydrastis palmatum.
Japanese: Shirane-aoi.
Genus: 1 species.
Region: Japan, Hokkaidō.
Content: coumarins, glaumacidine A, glaumacidine B, glaupalol.
Action: antimitotic.
Botany
Herb; rhizomatous; to 40 cm tall.
Stem: rigid.
Leaves: 2 at the top large; 20 cm diameter; palmately lobed; small membraneous lower on the stem.
Flower: singly at the top of the stem; 8 cm diameter; sepals 4, pink to pale purple petaloid; stamens numerous; two carpels.
Fruit: cluster of follicles.
Taxonomy
It is sometimes placed in its own family Glaucidiaceae, or in the past in the family Paeoniaceae. In the Apg3 classification it is placed in Ranunculaceae.