66 LESSER CELANDINE, OR PILEWORT. 



" Wreath'd of the sunny Celandine — the brief 

 Courageous Wind-flower, loveliest of the fi-ail — 

 The Hazel's crimson star — the Woodbine's leaf — 

 The Daisy with its half-closed eye of grief; 

 Prophets of fragrance, beauty, joy and song." 



This flower is a true lover of the sunshine, 

 opening only on bright days. A large number 

 of the blossoms grow from one root, and are 

 surrounded by shining green leaves spotted 

 with pale green. It is not a useful plant, 

 and though the lover of wild flowers greets it 

 with pleasure, yet the farmer Avould gladly 

 eradicate it from his pasture lands. It belongs 

 to the Ranunculus tribe, like the Buttercups, 

 and like them possesses very acrimonious pro- 

 perties. Its flowers are left untouched by the 

 cattle, and its roots are very bitter and acrid, 

 yet they are used for medicinal purposes. It 

 is also said to injure the plants growing 

 around it. 



The Celandine closes its flowers from five 

 o'clock in the eveninsr till nine on the fol- 

 lowino; morninof. Professor Martvn observes, 

 that the young leaves may be eaten in spring, 

 but they are rather acrid. 



