Eranthis hyemalis

Intro: 1570. Grows wild in large parts of Europe and North America. Originally: Southern France, Italy, the former Yugoslavia and Bulgaria but also in northern Iraq and Afghanistan. The leaves are not as deeply incised as those of E. cilicica, the flower stems are a bit longer (7-10 cm) and the flower diameter is often not greater than two cm. The flower colour is bright yellow. E. hyemalis tolerates somewhat moister soil and more shade.

BELONGS TO THE FAMILY OF RANUNCULACEAE

Wnter aconite. The name is derived from the Greek words: er (spring) and anthos (flower). The underground parts are quite small, about the size of a pea and usually irregular in shape; larger specimens resemble a wing nut. The leaves form a rosette lying on the ground; the upper leaves bear some resemblance to a collar that encloses the flowers. The yellow flowers, equipped with many stamens, are located at the end of very short (approx. 5 cm) stalks and, after some time, form a veritable carpet of flowers. After flowering, the star-shaped seed pods appear. When they burst open, the round seeds will produce many offspring.