Lesser Celandine Awakens ;The Spring Messenger is Here

Lesser Celandine, Grán arcáin

This one of the earliest Spring flowers to raise its head therefore it is sometimes known as The Spring Messenger. One, cheery, star like flower was spotted in Kilteevan this week. Rejoice!

The plant is a hairless perennial with shiny, narrow, yellow, 8-12 petalled flowers.

It blooms in woods, by rivers, in hedge-banks and roadsides usually between February and May. The blossoms close up before rain. Even in fine weather it does not open before 9 a.m. and by 5 p.m. it has already closed for the night.

It is a native plant and it belongs to the family Ranunculaceae. It is found throughout Europe ,West Asia and North Africa.

Celandine is widely referred to in literature.

The poet, William Wordsworth was very fond of this flower and refers to it in some of his poems. He wanted the flower carved on his tombstone.

CS. Lewis, J.R Tolkien, and  D H Lawrence also refer to celandines in their work.

Look out for this little beauty in our hedgerows over the next few months.