Greater celandine

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• celandine
• greater celandine
• rock poppy
• swallowwort
• great celandine
• nipplewort
• Swallow-wort

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is further organized under the order Ranunculales and the family Papaveraceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Chelidonium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions in Northern Europe. It can be found growing within the borders of Denmark and Finland. Furthermore, its presence extends to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. The species is also documented as occurring in Norway. Together, these locations define its northern European habitat.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Chelidonium majus is characterized by its broad adaptability across varying altitudinal gradients, spanning from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 2200 m AMSL. It is most frequently observed in lowland habitats, though it maintains a significant presence throughout middle elevations, with a mean elevational range centered around 1350 m AMSL. This wide distribution allows the species to occupy diverse ecological niches across a diverse range of vertical landscapes.

Elevational range max:

2200 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1350 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Chelidonium majus is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or soil cover during unfavorable periods. Furthermore, the species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage annually as it transitions through its seasonal cycles.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Chelidonium majus is characterized by a growth form classified as both a herb and a forb. It is a terrestrial, non-woody plant that functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. The plant typically exhibits an erect shoot orientation and is self-supporting, lacking any climbing or vine-like tendencies. In terms of stature, it maintains a relatively low profile, with a plant height that ranges from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 1 m, resulting in a mean height of approximately 0.5057 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.505666666666667 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Chelidonium majus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy. Its foliage exhibits significant morphological diversity, featuring a pinnate leaf form with a mean leaf size of 92.26 cm². The leaf dimensions vary considerably, with a mean leaf length of 5 cm (ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 20 cm) and a mean leaf width of 8 cm (ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 10 cm). Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 426.08 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and its physiological adaptation to its specific ecological niche.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

pinnate

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length mean:

5 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf size mean:

92.26 cm²

Leaf width max:

10 cm

Leaf width mean:

8 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

426.08 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Chelidonium majus is characterized by a sexual process through bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being absent. The flowering period typically commences in May and concludes in July, featuring yellow flowers that range in length from 0.7 cm to 1.2 cm. These flowers utilize a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily relying on insects, specifically bees, to facilitate fertilization; notably, self-fertilization is present. Following successful pollination, the plant develops dry fruit in the form of capsules. These capsules vary in size, with an average length of 3.5 cm (ranging from 2 cm to 5 cm) and an average width of 0.25 cm (ranging from 0.2 cm to 0.3 cm). Each fruit is prolific, containing between 101 and 1000 seeds. The seeds themselves are quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.000732889 g (ranging from 0.00051 g to 0.00091 g), a length between 1 mm and 1.5 mm, and a consistent volume of 0.47 mm³. Seed dispersal follows a zoochorous syndrome, specifically exhibiting myrmecochorous traits, indicating that ants play a role in the dispersal of the seeds.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

myrmecochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flower length max:

1.2 cm

Flower length min:

0.7 cm

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

5 cm

Fruit length mean:

3.5 cm

Fruit length min:

2 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.3 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.25 cm

Fruit width min:

0.2 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length max:

1.5 mm

Seed length min:

1 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00091 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000732889 g

Seed mass min:

0.00051 g

Seed volume max:

0.47 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Chelidonium majus has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Toxins

Chemicals

Chelidonium majus has 81 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include SANGUINARINE, CHELIDONINE, chelerythrine, Coptisine, protopine.

SANGUINARINE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Toxins

CHELIDONINE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Journal of biochemical and molecular toxicology
5. Georgian medical news

chelerythrine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Talanta

Coptisine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Phytochemistry
4. Planta medica
5. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

protopine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
4. Planta medica
5. Journal of chromatography. A

berberine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of separation science
4. Frontiers in pharmacology
5. Journal of chromatography. A

Allocryptopine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Planta medica
4. Journal of chromatography. A

Dihydrosanguinarine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Georgian medical news

Stylopine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Journal of chromatography. A

8-Hydroxydihydrochelerythrine

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Chelidonium majus has 254 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Anticancer, Antioxidant, Analgesic, Antiviral.

Antimicrobial

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Pharmaceutics
3. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences
4. Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Frontiers in pharmacology

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Pharmaceutics
4. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Pharmaceutics
4. Food technology and biotechnology

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of biochemical and molecular toxicology
3. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Antineoplastic

1. Dr. Duke
2. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences

Antispasmodic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

Antitussive

1. Dr. Duke
2. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences

Cholagogue

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Conditions

Chelidonium majus has 44 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, analgesic, irritable bowel syndrome, tumor, Bacillus subtilis.

Cancer

1. International journal of biological macromolecules
2. Fitoterapia
3. Frontiers in pharmacology
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR
5. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Analgesic

1. Journal of biochemical and molecular toxicology
2. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences
3. Chemico-biological interactions

Irritable bowel syndrome

1. Gastro hep advances
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Tumor

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of chromatography. A

Bacillus subtilis

1. Journal of chromatography. A

Cancer

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Endometriosis

1. Pharmaceutics

Fusarium

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Melanoma

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antineoplastic

1. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences

Preparations

Chelidonium majus has 21 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, C. majus extract, extract, 75% ethanol extract, Ethanolic extracts.

Extracts

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Talanta
3. Arzneimittel-Forschung
4. Toxins
5. Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)

C. majus extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Planta medica

Extract

1. Sangre
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

75% ethanol extract

1. Fitoterapia

Ethanolic extracts

1. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry

H2

1. Parasites & vectors

H3

1. Parasites & vectors

Root extract

1. Toxins

Aerial parts

1. Fitoterapia

Aerial parts extract

1. Toxins