Chelidonium majus
Family: Papaveraceae
Genus: Chelidonium
Related Genera: Eschscholzia, Papaver, Sanguinaria
The name Chelidonium comes from Greek χελιδών = chelidon, a swallow. The name indicates the herb starts to flower when the swallows return. In old German it was called Scheliwurz and today it is known in Germany as Schöllkraut. Another medieval interpretation of the name is caeli donum = gift of heaven. An amulet with Greater Celandine was said to calm an aggressive person. Alchemists tried to produce gold from the root as the German names Goldkraut and Goldwurz indicate. According to Paracelsus the herb was anti-icteric. Its most known use is however as a treatment of skin diseases and warts. Hence it is also known in Europe as Tetterwort. The stems and root carry a yellow sap containing the same isoquinoline alkaloids as the Canadian Bloodroot, its American equivalent. Greater Celandine is the only species in the genus Chelidonium. Albrecht Dürer liked the plant and dedicated one painting to it.
Sources: Wikipedia English, Wikipedia German
Fotos © Teufelskunst
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