CELANDINE

any of several distinct flowering plants of similar appearance. The celandine proper, or greater celandine (Chelidonium majus), once a valued plant of the Old World herbalist, is now grown somewhat in wild gardens. A member of the poppy family (Papaveraceae), it has poisonous orange sap, coarsely toothed, divided leaves, and four-petaled yellow blooms about 2.5 cm (1 inch) across. Celandine produces narrow, thin seed pods. It was formerly known as wartweed for its reputed power to remove warts. The celandine poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum), a North American plant of the poppy family, resembles Chelidonium but has flowers twice the size and two-paired, much-divided leaves on the stem below the flower cluster and basal leaves. Its sap is orange yellow. Stylophorum diphyllum is the sole species of the genus in the Western Hemisphere; several other species are Asian. It is grown as a garden flower in both the Old World and the New World, thriving in rich, moist soil and partial shade. The lesser celandine, or pilewort (Ranunculus ficaria), is a member of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). It has heart-shaped leaves and typical buttercup flowers. Native to Europe, it has become naturalized in North America.