19 



CELANDINE. 



Although this is a stranger in a 

 strange land, having come to our 

 shores from across the seas, it has 

 thriven and multiplied with the rapid- 

 ity common to aliens and extended its 

 range to include the whole eastern 

 half of the United States. 



The stem is quite stout and very 

 branching. At the end of each branch 

 is a loose cluster of buds on slender 

 stems ; these open one or two at a 

 time commencing in May and contin- 

 uing to bloom all summer. The flow- 

 ers are half an inch or more broad; 

 with four golden-yellow petals, a 

 long, slender, pointed green pistil 

 and numerous yellow stamens. Towards the end of the sea- 

 son, the continued flowering is marked by a large number 

 of long slender seed pods; when fully ripened the pods 

 split at the base and allow the escape of the seeds. 



The thin, soft leaves are divided into three to seven 

 handsome scalloped leaflets. Both stem and leaves have 

 very acrid, yellow juices that stain everything they come 

 in contact with. Celandine grows in abundance in waste 

 land, in rich moist woodland and along beds of brooks. 



During April and May, in rich hilly woods, we may some- 

 times find the peculiar plant known as Dutchman's Breeches. 

 The reason for the name is readily apparent to those who 

 have seen the little white trousers dangling along the slend- 

 er flowering stalk, which rises from five to nine inches above 

 ground. The leaves are very much divided and slashed and 

 all rise from the rootstock on long stems. Dutchman's 

 Breeches belongs to the Fumitory Family, all species of 

 which have finely divided leaves and smooth rather slender 

 stems which contain watery juices. 



