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Amy's avatar

Funnily enough, I saw my first lesser celandine in flower today. I love looking out for these early blooms cheering us all on through the end of winter and into spring. Enjoyed this post, thank you.

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Chantal Bourgonje's avatar

They've been popping up in the garden and along the paths here as well. So cheering to see them bloom. All they needed was that bit of sunshine we've had the last few days. And am very pleased to read you enjoyed this post, thank you!

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Burhinus's avatar

Interesting read

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Chantal Bourgonje's avatar

Thank you, very pleased you found it interesting. There are so many great stories behind our wild flower names!

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wilmavdakkerschrijftaal's avatar

Geweldig dat antieke Nederlands 😊

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Chantal Bourgonje's avatar

Heerlijk he! Elke keer als ik weer ergens zo'n stukje vind geniet ik ervan.🥰

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wilmavdakkerschrijftaal's avatar

One of my favorite wild plants. I have many. Thank you for the new knowledge (to me) about the shape of the roots. I have always thought and read somewhere that the roots, or little bulbs actually have the shape of a pacifier (=speen in Dutch, hence speenkruid). And mice tend to eat and spread them.

Thank you for this! 💛

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Chantal Bourgonje's avatar

I love them too, like you we have many in our garden. Thank you for the note about the mice, I didn't know that. I love these little bits of plant knowledge.

The funny thing is that in old Dutch, speen also meant aambei (then called anheyen). If you think of the shape of a 'speen' it all fits together again! 😄 Thought you might like what Rembert Dodoens tells us in 1644: "Cleyne gouwe oft Speencruydt. In onse tijden/ende wat daer voor heeft men de wortelkens met de aenhangende greynkens of korlenkens begoot te gebruycken om de speenen te genesen: ende men heeft dit kruydt daerom de naem Speencruydt ghegeven: want de Speenen oft Anheyen met het sap van dit cruydt oft na sijne wortelen met wijn oft pisse van den cracken gemengelt zijnde/dikwijls gewassen en genett/ worden cleynder ende in een getrocken/ende verdrogen heel: ende pijne vergeet gantsch."

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