YELLOW 



of this plant signifies greater celandine ; for we remember that 

 the poet never failed to specify the small celandine as the object 

 of his praise. The small celandine is Ranunculus ficaria, one 

 of the Crowfoot family, and is only found in this country as an 

 escape from gardens. 



Gray tells us that the generic name, Chelidonium, from the 

 ancient Greek for swallow, was given " because its flowers ap- 

 pear with the swallows ; ' ' but if we turn to Gerarde we read 

 that the title was not bestowed " because it first springeth at the 

 coming in of the swallowes, or dieth when they go away, for as 

 we have saide, it may be founde all the yeare ; but because some 

 holde opinion, that with this herbe the dams restore sight to 

 their young ones, when their eies be put out. ' ' 



CELANDINE POPPY. 



Stylophorum diphyllum. Poppy Family. 



Stem. Low, two-leaved. Stem-leaves. Opposite, deeply incised. Root- 

 leaves. Incised or divided. Flovvers. Deep yellow, large, one or more at 

 the summit of the stem. Calyx. Of two hairy sepals. Corolla. Of four 

 petals. Stamens. Many. Pistil. One, with a two to four-lobed stigma. 



In April or May, somewhat south and westward, the woods 

 are brightened, and occasionally the hill-sides are painted yel- 

 low, by this handsome flower. In both flower and foliage the 

 plant suggests the celandine. 



DOWNY YELLOW VIOLET. 



Viola pubescens. Violet Family. 



Stems. Leafy above, erect. Leaves. Broadly heart-shaped, toothed. 

 Flowers. Yellow, veined with purple, otherwise much like those of the 

 common blue violet. 



When beechen buds begin to swell, 



And woods the blue-bird's warble know, 



The yellow violet's modest bell 

 Peeps from the last year's leaves below, 



sings Bryant, in his charming, but not strictly accurate poem, for 

 the chances are that the " beechen buds " have almost burst into 



118 



