Name: from the Greek Er meaning spring, and anthos meaning flower.
English: Winter aconite.
Region: France, Italy, Balkans; widely naturalised in Europe.
Habitat: calcareous woodland.
Content: khellin, can be converted into analogues such as sodium cromoglicate; cardiac glycosides similar to those present in
Adonis vernalis: Eranthin A and B, similar to bufadienolides found in toads.
Culture: endangered and protected.
BotanyHerb; perennial; poisonous; to 15 cm high.
Root: tuberous.
Flowers: large, ± 3 cm, yellow; cup-shaped with 3 leaf-like bracts; sepals 6 bright yellow, petaloid; petals are in the form of tubular nectaries.; stamens numerous; usually six unfused carpels; flowering early in spring, one of the earliest of all flowers.
Fruit: follicles containing several seeds;