Rolandvue 3rd Week May,Greater Celandine,Sensitive Fern,Fleabane,Bittersweet Nightshade

The patch of yellow flowers on the north side of Rolandvue across from the entrance of Cloverlea are likely to be greater celandine.  They follow most of the criteria, erect, perennial, four yellow petals and pinnate leaves with wavy margins.  There is also the orange sap seen with the Wood Poppy.  It is toxic due to alkaloids, but supposedly useful in folk medicine at the proper dosage.

Orange toxic sap of the greater celandine

Greater celandine,four yellow petals,thin seed

Latin is Chelidonium, other common names are wartweed, Devil's milk,and rock poppy. It shares the four petal yellow flower and the orange sap with the wood poppy but the seeds are different.  Greater celandine has long narrow seeds compared to the fat fuzzy seeds of the wood poppy(which was fifty yards up Cloverlea last week). This plant is introduced,becoming invasive while the poppy is native. Some raise the wartweed and some suggest pulling it up before it goes to seed while wearing gloves to avoid the toxic sap.


The sensitive ferns are back on the west side of Cloverlea just as it enters Rolandvue ,on both sides of the utility pole. The name derives from its sensitivity to the first fall frost.  It is variously reported as native or originating in the far east.  The photo shows the sterile frond this week, the fertile frond should be smaller and beaded, appearing in July and August. Stay tuned.

sensitive fern,sterile frond, from a clump at corner Rolandvue and Cloverlea

Bittersweet nightshade can be found along the south side of Rolandvue going uphill toward Charles street.   It is a relative of the tomato, but contains more concentrated solanine a moderately effective poison.  Nightshade conjures images of the Borgias.  It has been blooming this week, will go to a red berry sometimes attractive to children. It has medicinal uses but best avoided. The leaves have this arrow shape with lobes at the base. It can climb as high as 4 meters if supported.

bittersweet nightshade,lobed leaf

group of bittersweet nightshade flowers

close-up of flower,four purple petals,yellow stamen
pointed style

The last photo shows a flower also seen along the Bellona end of Rolandvue.   Here is another place for latin, we are calling it fleabane but this is used for a number of similar flowers in the aster family.  But it does have the central yellow disc with numerous white rays. The lanceolate lower leaves are said to be edible but are hairy, possibly unpleasant.
Cooking helps.

enlarged view of the lance-shaped hairy leaves and stem of the fleabane

multiple rays of the fleabane flower

overall appearance of fleabane