Wild Flowers East of the Rockies 137 



CELANDINE (Chelidonium majus) (EUROPEAN). 



Although this is a stranger in a strange land, having 

 come to us from across the seas, it is by no means 

 backwards and is extending its range with remark- 

 able celerity. It is now abundant almost everywhere 

 in the eastern half of our country. It bids fair, in 

 time, to extend its range to equal that of the English 

 Sparrow, but we trust it will never become a pest as 

 that bird has. 



The stem is quite stout and very branching; at 

 the end of each branch is a. loose cluster of buds on 

 slender pedicels. These open one or two at a time, 

 so that the plant keeps in bloom for a long time; in 

 fact, the flowering season extends from early in May 

 to the end of September. The flowers are half an 

 inch or more broad, with four golden-yellow petals, 

 a slender, pointed green pistil and numerous yellow 

 stamens. The seed-pod is long and slender; when 

 ripe, it splits at the base and allows the seeds to es- 

 cape. Towards the end of the flowering season, the 

 continued bloom is marked by the large number of 

 these pods with which the plant is decorated. 



The thin, soft leaves are very handsomely divided 

 into three to seven, lobed leaflets. Both stem and 

 leaves have a bright yellow, very acrid juice, that 

 stains everything it comes in contact with. Celand- 

 ine is often known in Europe as "Swallow-wort" as 

 it is supposed to commence flowering with the com- 

 ing of the swallows and to cease with their departure. 

 Its generic name also originated in this belief. 



CELANDINE POPPY (Stylophorum diphyllum) is a 

 very similar species, both as to leaf and flower. It 

 has fewer flowers than the last, and the seed pod is 

 ovoid in shape and bristly. It is found from Pa. to 

 Wise, and southwards. 



