Eranthis is a small genus of herbaceous perennial flowering plants in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, within the order Ranunculales. The genus was described by the botanist Richard Anthony Salisbury in 1807. Species are commonly known as winter aconites, a name reflecting both their very early flowering time and the resemblance of their finely divided leaves to those of the related genus Aconitum (true aconite).
Plants in the genus are low-growing, reaching only 10–15 cm (4–6 in) tall. Most species bear bright yellow flowers, though Eranthis albiflora and E. pinnatifida produce white flowers instead. Flowering begins remarkably early in the season — as soon as January in mild climates — and the blooms are frost-tolerant, able to survive being covered by fresh snow. The peltate, notched leaves, 5–8 cm across, only expand fully once flowering is nearly finished, and they persist for just two to three months before dying back in late spring.
Like many members of Ranunculaceae — and echoing their Aconitum look-alikes — Eranthis species are poisonous. Unlike Aconitum's neurotoxic alkaloids, however, the toxicity in Eranthis comes mainly from cardiac glycosides, a class of compound also found in plants such as Adonis vernalis and Asclepias incarnata.
Ecologically, Eranthis species behave as spring ephemerals: they complete their above-ground growth cycle on the floor of deciduous forests, taking advantage of sunlight available before the tree canopy leafs out, then die back once shade (or, in drier regions, summer drought) sets in.
The genus is native to a broad swath of Eurasia, from southern Europe east across Asia to Japan, with individual species occupying more localized native ranges spanning western China, Central Asia, Korea, southeastern Russia, southwestern Asia, and Japan. Because of their cheerful, very early blooms, several Eranthis species — especially E. hyemalis — are popular ornamental plants for winter and early-spring gardens, and E. hyemalis has become widely naturalized outside its native range in northern Europe and North America.
Distribution
Eranthis is native to southern Europe and across Asia to Japan, with individual species centered on western China (E. albiflora, E. lobulata), Central Asia (E. longistipitata), Japan (E. pinnatifida), eastern Asia including northern China, Korea, and southeast Russia (E. stellata), and southern Europe (E. hyemalis). E. hyemalis has become widely naturalised outside its native range in northern Europe and North America.
Ecology
Species in the genus are spring ephemerals: they grow on the floor of deciduous forests, exploiting sunlight available before the tree canopy leafs out in spring, and their foliage dies back once canopy shade thickens or, in drier regions, once summer drought reduces water availability. Flowers appear as early as January in mild climates and are frost-tolerant, surviving fresh snow cover unharmed.
Cultivation
Eranthis species, particularly E. hyemalis, are popular ornamental plants grown for their very early winter or spring flowering.
