GREATER CELANDINE Meaning and
Definition
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Greater celandine, scientifically known as Chelidonium majus, is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the poppy family Papaveraceae. It is native to Europe and Western Asia and is widely distributed across regions with temperate climates. The name "greater celandine" distinguishes it from the closely related lesser celandine, which is a completely different plant.
Greater celandine is characterized by its erect, branching stems, which can reach heights of up to 1 meter. The plant bears lobed, bright green leaves that are arranged alternately along the stems. Its flowers, which bloom from late spring to early summer, are bright yellow and stand atop long stalks. Each flower consists of four petals, 2 sepals, and numerous stamens.
In addition to its ornamental value, greater celandine has long been valued for its medicinal properties. Its yellow, sap-like latex contains various alkaloids, including the compound known as Chelidonium. This latex has historically been used in traditional medicine for its purported antispasmodic, analgesic, and antimicrobial effects. It has been applied topically for treating skin conditions such as warts, eczema, and ringworm. Internally, it has been employed in the form of teas or tinctures to alleviate gastrointestinal disorders like indigestion and constipation.
It is important to note that while greater celandine has a long history of traditional usage, its medicinal properties have not been extensively studied or confirmed by modern scientific research. Therefore, consultation with a healthcare professional is advised before using greater celandine for any medicinal purposes.
Common Misspellings for GREATER CELANDINE
- freater celandine
- vreater celandine
- breater celandine
- hreater celandine
- yreater celandine
- treater celandine
- geeater celandine
- gdeater celandine
- gfeater celandine
- gteater celandine
- g5eater celandine
- g4eater celandine
- grwater celandine
- grsater celandine
- grdater celandine
- grrater celandine
- gr4ater celandine
- gr3ater celandine
- grezter celandine
Etymology of GREATER CELANDINE
The word "celandine" is derived from the Latin word "celandīnum", which in turn comes from the Greek word "chelīdonion". "Chelīdonion" originally referred to the plant known as "swallow-wort" or "swallowwort" in English. The name was given due to the belief that the plant bloomed when the swallows returned in spring and withered when they left in autumn.
The word "greater" is used to differentiate the plant known as "greater celandine" (Chelidonium majus) from another related plant called "lesser celandine" (Ficaria verna).
So, the etymology of "greater celandine" can be traced back to the Greek and Latin roots for "celandine" and the distinction between the two celandine plants.
Similar spelling words for GREATER CELANDINE
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