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Greater Celandine
Chelidonium majus
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A naturalized plant of European origin found along roadsides and stone walls. When the stem is broken, it exudes bright orange-yellow latex. It produces small flowers with four yellow petals and elongated capsular fruits containing many seeds.
Identification Points
- βOrange-yellow latex exudes from wounded stems or leaves (toxic)
- βYellow four-petaled flowers with numerous stamens
- βLeaves are deeply pinnately lobed with whitish undersides
Habitat
Roadsides, stone walls, near houses, and wastelands
Season
AprilβJuly (flowers)
Morphological TraitsAI-estimated, needs verification
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf type
Simple
Venation
Pinnate
Leaf dissection
Dissected
Leaf shape
Linear
Growth form
Herb
Petal count
4 petals
Petal fusion
Free
Habitat
Roadside
Stipules
Absent
Flower symmetry
Actinomorphic
Ovary position
Superior
Plant sex
Hermaphrodite
Stamen count
1-2
Phylogenetic Positionγ±γ·η§ β
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Basal eudicots > Ranunculales > Papaveraceae
Divergence Era
Late Cretaceous to Paleogene (approx. 75 million years ago)
Evolution Notes
The poppy family evolved a chemical defense strategy of accumulating alkaloids in latex; many species contain toxic compounds.
View on evolution timeline βSources & References
AI-generated, needs verification