description
Celandine belongs to the same family as the Poppies (Papaveraceae) and has,
like these flowers, a dense mass of stamens in the center of its blossoms.
The Celandine is an herbaceous perennial. The root is thick and fleshy. The
stem, which is slender, round and slightly hairy, grows from 1 1/2 to 3 feet
high and is much branched; at the points where the branches are given off,
it is swollen and jointed and breaks very easily.
The whole plant abounds in a bright, orange-colored juice, which is emitted
freely wherever the stems or leaves are broken. This juice stains the hands
strongly and has a persistent and nauseous taste and a strong, disagreeable
smell. It is acrid and a powerful irritant.
The yellowish-green leaves, which are much paler, almost grayish below, are
very thin in texture, drooping immediately on gathering. They are graceful
in form and slightly hairy, 6 to 12 inches long, 2 to 3 inches wide, deeply
divided as far as the central rib, so as to form usually two pairs of
leaflets, placed opposite to one another, with a large terminal leaflet. The
margins of the leaflets are cut into by rounded teeth.
The flowers drop very quickly when picked. They are arranged at the ends of
the stems in loose umbels. They blossom throughout the summer, being
succeeded by narrow, long pods, containing blackish seeds.
common names & nomenclature
The English name Celandine is derived from the Greek word chelidon (a
swallow), because it comes into flower when the swallows arrive and fades at
their departure.
Also known as:
greater celandine, celandine poppy, common celandine, felon-wort, garden celandine, greater celandine, grecian may, swallow wort, tetterwort, wartweed
