celandine
celandine Lexical Profile
celandine Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A herbaceous perennial plant (Chelidonium majus) of the poppy family, native to Europe and western Asia, characterized by deeply lobed leaves, small yellow flowers, and a pungent yellow-orange sap traditionally used in herbal medicine.
"The herbalist carefully harvested the greater celandine, mindful of its bright orange sap that was historically used to treat warts and skin ailments."
A low-growing, early spring-blooming herbaceous plant (Ficaria verna) of the buttercup family, native to Europe and western Asia, featuring glossy, dark green, heart-shaped leaves and bright yellow, star-like flowers.
"In early March, the woodland floor was blanketed with the cheerful, bright yellow blooms of lesser celandine."
Word Nuance & Usage
The common name 'celandine' applies to two entirely unrelated botanical plants: the greater celandine (a member of the poppy family) and the lesser celandine (a member of the buttercup family).
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old French 'celidoine' and Late Latin 'chelidonia', ultimately derived from the Greek 'khelidōn' meaning 'swallow'. According to ancient folklore, the plant was said to bloom when the swallows arrived in spring and wither when they departed in autumn.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.