Eranthis (Winter aconite) is a genus of eight species of flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae, native to southern Europe and east across Asia to Japan.

They are herbaceous perennial plants growing to 10-15 cm tall. The flowers are yellow (white in E. albiflora and E. pinnatifida), and among the first to appear in spring, as early as January in mild climates, though later where winter snowpack persists; they are frost-tolerant and readily survive fresh snow cover unharmed. The leaves only expand fully when the flowers are nearly finished; they are peltate, 5-8 cm diameter, with several notches, and only last for 2-3 months before dying down during the late spring.

The genus exhibits aestivation, growing on forest floors and using the sunshine available below the canopy of deciduous trees before the leaves come out; the leaves die off when the shade from tree canopies becomes dense, or, in dry areas, when summer drought reduces water availability.

They are popular ornamental plants grown for their winter or early spring flowering. E. hyemalis is widely naturalised in northern Europe and North America.

All parts of the plants are poisonous, though the very acrid taste makes poisoning a low risk.

Species

• Eranthis albiflora. Western China.
• Eranthis cilicica. Southwestern Asia.
• Eranthis hyemalis. Southern Europe.
• Eranthis lobulata. Western China.
• Eranthis longistipitata. Central Asia.
• Eranthis pinnatifida. Japan.
• Eranthis sibirica. Northern Asia.
• Eranthis stellata. Eastern Asia (northern China, Korea, southeast Russia).

External links

• Flora of China: Eranthis

Ranunculales | Poisonous plants

Vårblomme-slægten | Winterling | Erantido | Erantis