Celandine Lesser

Botanical Name: Ranunculus ficaria

Family: Ranunculaceae

Other Names: Crain, grain, golden guineas goldy knob, fig buttercup, fig-wort, filding cup, foalfoot, pilewort, ranunculus, small wort, swallow wort

Habitat: Woods, grassy banks, rivers, ditches, streams

Description: Perennial plant. Hairless short fleshy creeping stems 5-25cm/2-10 in Leaves dark green, heart shaped, long stalks often with blotches or spots Bright yellow flowers star like 8-12 petals March-May (early as mid January in South England when it is mild)

Native to: Britain, Europe

Introduced to: North America

Part Used: Whole herb

Harvesting: Root: May-June

Actions: Anti-haemorrhoidal, astringent

Constituents: Saponins based on hederagenin and oleanolic acid: hederagenin glucoside, rhamnose, arabinose

Protoanemonin, anemonin

Tannins

  Combines with: Plantain, marigold, agrimony, with hazel, marigold

  Traditional uses: Piles, corns

  Skin: Varicose veins, haemorrhoids

Other Uses: Cow udder problems

Other Notes: Flowers known as the first herald of spring

  According to Pliny swallows feed their young lesser celandine in order to improve their eyesight

  Caution: Do not use in large quantities