Chelidonium Miniscula was a potion. It was dark yellow in colour when completed, but the effects of this potion were unknown, along with its required ingredients.[1]
Etymology[]
Chelidonium is the name for a genus of yellow-flowered herbs of the poppy family (Papaveraceae) that have yellowish acrid juice (like this potion) and includes the Greater celandine (Chelidonium majus). It also refers to any preparation of celandine used especially formerly as a diuretic.[2] Miniscula is from the English "miniscule" (a variant spelling of "minuscule" meaning "very small", possibly a reference to the potion's concentration).
Behind the scenes[]
- Chelidonium Miniscula was only seen in the "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Print Studio (Slytherin Edition)" CD-Rom.
- The effects of this potion are unknown, though there are several possibilities given the etymology (and hence the known pharmacological & herbal properties of Chelidonium majus).[3] For example, it may be: a diuretic; a purgative; a moderate poison; an analgesic; a mild sedative or any combination of the above. Given that this potion is only seen in the Slytherin edition CD-Rom, it is probably at least a moderate poison, as suggested.
- At first, Chelidonium Miniscula would appear to denote the name of a species of the genus Chelidonium (making this liquid the extract from it). However, this cannot be since species names are never capitalised (which Miniscula clearly is) so it must mean something else.
Appearances[]
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) (First appearance)