166 THE LESSER CELANDINE. 



which the Anemones have already furnished us with a speci- 

 men. Several very poisonous plants are members of this 

 order; and, in truth, very few can be pronounced wholly 

 innocent. I do not think there is much harm in the Lesser 

 Celandine, however the glossy, starry flower, yellow as a but- 

 tercup, with heart-shaped leaves, which Wordsworth has cele- 

 brated : 



" Ere a leaf is on the bush, 

 In the time before the thrush 

 Has a thought about its nest, 

 Thou wilt come with half a call, 

 Spreading out thy glossy breast, 

 Like a careless prodigal ; 

 Telling tales about the sun, 

 When we 've little warmth or none." 



There cannot be much harm in it, for in the north of Europe 

 the peasantry boil its leaves, and eat them as greens. It 

 thrives in all parts of England, in green woods and meadows, 

 and on wild furzy wastes and open commons; under leafy 

 hedges, and even in the gay pastures, among the primroses and 

 hepaticas. A number of small, grain-like tubers lie around 

 it, close to the surface of the earth ; whence it was a common 

 saying in "the days of old" that this plant showered down 

 wheat in its vicinity. 



To the same order belongs the Buttercup (Ranunculus bul- 

 bosus), whose bulbous root procured for it from our forefathers 

 the name of " St Anthony's turnip." 



If the good saint ever partook of buttercup-corms, we do 



