The solitary yellow flower, large in chelidonium majus proportion to the plant, is borne singly on a long stalk, rising from the axil of the leaf. The calyx is cleft into five lobes, which alternate with five longer majus chelidonium and divided bracteoles. There are five petals and many stamens and carpels. It flowers chiefiy from June to August, and sparingly much later in the year. Wherever there are shady chelidonium majus banks and woodland clearings, this charming little plant is sure to be met with.
The leaves are not trefoils, as the name would lead one to suppose, for the apparent stipules majus chelidonium at the base of the leaf-stalk are, in this genus, leaflets. The flowers, which are in spreading heads of from three to ten flowers, are of bright yellow, tinted majus chelidonium with red. They are succeeded by little cylindrical pods about one inch in length, which, when three or four are in a cluster, present the appearance of a bird's majus chelidonium claw. The seeds are globular, separated by a pithy substance, which nearly fills the pod. The plant is a valued ingredient in the formation of pastures and meadows.
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