Lesser celandine / Zlatica / Scharbockskraut

Description:

It is a low-growing, hairless perennial plant, with fleshy dark green, heart-shaped leaves.

Habitat:

The plant is found throughout Europe and west Asia and is now introduced in North America.

Notes:

Celandine comes from the Latin chelidonia, meaning swallow: it was said that the flowers bloomed when the swallows returned and faded when they left.The name Ranunculus is Late Latin for "little frog," from rana "frog" and a diminutive ending. This probably refers to many species being found near water, like frogs. The plant used to be known as Pilewort because it was used to treat haemorrhoids. Supposedly, the knobbly tubers of the plant resemble piles, and according to the doctrine of signatures this resemblance suggests that pilewort could be used to cure piles. The German vernacular Scharbockskraut ("Scurvyherb") derives from the use of the early leaves, which are high in vitamin C, to prevent scurvy. The plant is widely used in Russia and is sold in most pharmacies as a dried herb. Medicines should be made from the dried herb or by heat extraction as the plant contains protoanemonin, a mild toxin. A single case was reported with acute hepatitis after consuming a remedy made from Lesser Celandine. However, the process of heating or drying turns the toxin to anemonin which is non-toxic and has antispasmodic and analgesic properties.