Chelidonium majus - Greater Celandine

Family:	Papaveraceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.5
Width:	0.4
Synonyms:
Range:	Most of Europe, including Britain, east to N. Asia.

Chelidonium majus (Greater Celandine) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.5m and a width of 0.4m . It has a fast growth rate. It has a hardness rating of 6and is vunerable to frost.
Greater Celandine will flower in November to February. the seeds ripen from January to March
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles, self

Soil Information

Greater Celandine will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Greater Celandine prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Greater Celandine can grow in full, semi shaded areas and areas with no shade.

Rubble, damp ground, banks, hedgerows and by walls[7, 17], nearly always close to human habitations[4].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Works within dappled Shade
• Grows in a shady edge
• Is suited to a deeply shaded location
• Can spread to cover ground and will out compete weeds

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in any soil other than boggy conditions[1, 111, 233]. Prefers a rich soil of a woodland nature[1, 31]. Shade tolerant[31]. Plants grow well on walls if they are given a semi-shaded position and a pocket of soil into which to root[219]. A short-lived perennial[187], but it self-sows freely and can easily become a weed[200]. It quickly colonizes waste ground and thin woodland areas[233]. Once established, the plant is very difficult to eradicate.

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 2/5
Leaves - cooked in small quantities[177]. They contain small amounts of toxic alkaloids[179]. The leaves are boiled with clean earth, the mixture is left overnight and then thoroughly washed in several changes of water[179]. Very much a famine food, to be used when all else fails!![K].

• Leaves -

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 3/5
Greater celandine has a long history of herbal use[4]. Traditionally it was employed as an ophthalmic to treat and clear the eyesight whilst in modern herbal medicine it is used more as a mild sedative, antispasmodic and detoxifying herb, relaxing the muscles of the bronchial tubes, intestines and other organs[254]. The latex is much used externally to treat warts. Caution should be employed, especially when the plant is used internally however, because it contains toxic alkaloids[7, 21]. The leaves and the sap are acrid, alterative, anodyne, antispasmodic, caustic, cholagogue, diaphoretic, diuretic, hydrogogue, narcotic, purgative[4, 7, 9, 21, 46, 165, 238]. They are used in the treatment of bronchitis, whooping cough, asthma, jaundice, gallstones and gallbladder pains[254]. The plant is harvested in the spring as it comes into flower, it is best used fresh[7], but can also be dried for later use[9]. The roots can also be used, these are harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[9]. The plant has anticancer properties and is analgesic[4, 218]. It is an important component of a stomach ulcer drug[218]. The plant has an abundant acrid bright-orange sap that stains the skin strongly and is powerfully irritant[4]. It is used as an external treatment to get rid of warts, ringworm and corns[13, 187, 222, 244] and has also been used to remove films from the cornea of the eye[4]. The plant contains the alkaloid chelidonine, which is similar to the alkaloid papaverine found in poppies. This alkaloid has antispasmodic and sedative effects on the bile ducts and bronchi. However, results have been inconsistent, especially if the preparation is not fresh[244]. The plant also contains the alkaloid sparteine, which restores normal rhythm to feeble arrhythmic myocardia[207].

• Acrid - Causes heat and irritation when applied to the skin.
• Alterative - Causes a gradual beneficial change in the body, usually through improved nutrition and elimination, without having any marked specific action.
• Anodyne - Relieves pain, it is milder than an analgesic.
• Antispasmodic - Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.
• Cancer - Used in the treatment of cancer.
• Cholagogue - Increases the flow of bile and its discharge from the body.
• Diaphoretic - Induces perspiration.
• Diuretic - Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
• Hydrogogue - A purgative that causes an abundant watery discharge.
• Narcotic - Relieves pain, induces drowsiness and gives a sense of well-being.
• Ophthalmic - Treats eye complaints.
• Purgative - A drastic laxative causing a cleansing or watery evacuation of the bowels, usually with a griping pain.
• Stomachic - Aids and improves the action of the stomach.
• Warts - Used in the treatment of warts, corns etc.

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ February to May or August to November. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 12 months[164, 200]. The plant self-sows freely and should not need much encouragement. Division in March[111]. The plant bleeds profusely so this method is not recommended[200].

Known Hazards

The whole plant is poisonous[7, 10, 19]. It is of very low toxicity and this is greatly reduced by drying the plant[65]. The stem juice is highly irritating and allergenic, it may cause paralysis[222]. Large doses cause sleepiness, skin irritation, respiratory tract irritation, violent coughing and dyspnoea[268]. It also stains the urine bright yellow and may cause ulcers[268].

Other Uses

Plants rapidly form a ground cover, but should only be used in wild places because of their invasive nature[200]. Seed contains 50 - 66% of a fatty oil[74]. No more details given.

• Ground cover - Usually low growing plants that can be grown with other plants, especially shrubs and trees, to prevent the growth of weeds.
• Oil - Vegetable oils have many uses, as lubricants, lighting, soap and paint making, waterproofing etc. This does not include the edible oils unless they are also mentioned as having other uses.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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