Greater Celandine

Greater Celandine 1         Greater Celadine 2

Greater Celandine (Chelidonium):

 

Greater celandine is a perennial plant native to Europe and Asia that has since been widely introduced to North America. Belonging to the poppy family, Greater celandine is a late spring bloomer with 4-petaled flowers that are yellow in color. The plant itself stands erect at around 30 to 120 cm high, with black seeds carried in the long capsules at the center of the flower. In order to pollinate, the seeds contain chemicals which attract ants that then carry the seeds away to sprout elsewhere. When injured the plant relies on a defensive mechanism that releases a type of yellowish colored latex which irritates the eyes and skin.

Katrina BergmanGreater Celandine