Fabulous Folklore: Lesser Celandine

Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus Ficaria) 

Considered a weed - but still a beautiful plant nonetheless - Lesser Celandine is a small, low-growing, perennial herb from the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. Its cheerful star-shaped flowers appear in early spring covering the woodland floor.

A British native, it can be found in woods, hedgerows, on the banks of streams, and in gardens; and is an early and excellent source of pollen and nectar for emerging bumblebees.

Also known as brighteye, spring messenger, figwort, smallwort, cheesecups, and butter and cheese, it’s most popular folk name is probably pilewort due to its traditional use in Medieval Britain in the treatment of piles.

I call it The Shopkeeper because it closes its petals at 5pm, and re-opens at 9am, even in fine weather; and it was once held that it could be used to predict the weather as they close their petals before raindrops.

If picked on the morning of St Peter’s Day (29th June) it is said that you are given protection from imprisonment - but given that it disappears around late April take from that what you will! It is also associated with psychic ability, the Sun, Artemis, and Scorpio.

I have seen its magickal correspondences referred to as war, destruction, action, rage, and power, but I personally associate it with cheeriness, spring, routine, boundaries, timekeeping, and getting a job done.

Lesser celandine is mentioned in C. S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. When Aslan returns and the woodland turns from winter to spring, the ground is covered with yellow celandine flowers.

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