Great Celandine.

Botanical name: 

Plate 09. Chelidonium majus.

A COMMON wild plant with large leaves, and yellow flowers: which, when broken in any part, stalk, or leaves, emits a yellow juice. It grows three feet high, but the stalks are not very robust, they are round, green, and naked, with thick joints. The leaves stand two at each joint; they are large, long, and deeply divided at the edges, and are of a yellowish green. The flowers are small, but of a beautiful yellow, and they stand on long foot stalks several together.

Celandine should be used fresh, for it looses the greatest part of its virtue in drying. The juice is the best way of giving it; and this is an excellent medicine in the jaundice: it is also good against all obstructions of the viscera, and if continued a time, will do great service against the scurvy. The juice also is used successfully for sore eyes.


The Family Herbal, 1812, was written by John Hill.