The Lesser Celandine
There is a Flower, the Lesser Celandine,
That shrinks, like many more, from cold and rain;
And, the first moment that the sun may shine,
Bright as the sun himself, ’tis out again! – William Wordsworth
Lesser Celandine is related to buttercups. This is not different to believe. But it needs a better name if people are to love it as much as its famous cousins.
They love damp woodland. In Somerset there is plenty of those this year.
As one of the first flowers to appear after winter, they provide an important nectar source for queen bumblebees and other pollinators emerging from hibernation, and other early insects. – Woodland Trust
On a day when March snow returned to Somerset for the second time this year, it was only one degree Celsius early this morning at Park Wood. Forgetting my gloves again.
As the dew hangs around on cold spring days the celandines are slow to open.
And finally…
Lesser celandine is also known as pilewort because they look like piles. This creates a picture I did not expect to imagine today! It seems my mind’s view was wrong, as it is their roots that look like piles not the flowers.