78 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



The flowers fall the second day after they are blown ; 

 but they are large, form a fine contrast with the sea- 

 green colour of the leaves, and follow each other in 

 such quick succession and abundance almost all the sum- 

 mer, as to make it a valuable plant. It begins to flower 

 in June. It is a perennial flower. The whole plant 

 abounds with a poisonous juice, which is said to occasion 

 madness. 



The Red and the Violet Celandines, or Horned Pop- 

 pies, are common in Europe, growing in the same sandy 

 soil as the former. These flower in July and August. 



The Great, or Major Celandine, is common in hedges, 

 and other shady places; on rubbish, rocks, or old walls*. 

 It bears a bright yellow flower, and continues in blossom 

 from the beginning of May till the end of July. 



The juice of this plant is acrimonious: it is said to cure 

 ring-worms, and, when diluted with milk, to consume white 

 opaque spots in the eyes. It is also thought efficacious in 

 the cure of warts and cutaneous disorders. The root is 

 esteemed by the natives of Cochin-China for a variety of 

 medicinal purposes. 



This species preserves its green leaves all the year, 

 and they are remarkably handsome ; being large, elegantly 

 shaped, and of a transparency which shows the delicacy 

 of their texture, as the yellow light shines through them. 

 The double-flowered variety is chiefly cultivated in gar- 

 dens : it is increased by parting the roots in autumn. 



The usual mode of sowing these plants is to scatter the 

 seeds about in rock-work, where they will come up with- 

 out further trouble. If sown in pots, the best time for 

 the purpose is in September : one seed in each pot. They 



* This is the proper swallow wort ; and called, in French, I'eclaire, 

 la grande eclaire, le felonge'ne, I'herbe de rhirondclle [swallow's herb:] 

 in ItaVuiri, favagella, cerigogna. 



