THE ERANTHES. — THE TROP^EOLUM. 233 



THE ERANTHES. 



The winter aconite {Eranthes hyemalis) is a simple little 

 yellow flower, valuable for its early blooming, and contrast- 

 ing well with the snowdrops, which are the only flowers to 

 keep it company at the early season at which it blooms. 



The flower is about three inches high, produced one on 

 each of a pair of flat-lobed leaves, which terminate the stalk. 

 The root is tuberous, and resembles a lump of hard peat- 

 earth. 



It needs only to be planted in the border, and left to itself. 

 It is a native of England. There is another species, a 

 native of Siberia {E. Siherica), also with yellow flowers, 

 and equally hardy. 



THE TROP^OLUM. 



The tuberous species of this family bear little resem- 

 blance to our common nasturtiums. They are generally 

 tender greenhouse-plants, of delicate growth, and proper 

 subjects for careful culture. They are natives of South 

 America ; and one, T. azurcum^ has flowers of the finest 

 blue in the floral kingdom. 



The tubers should be potted when the thread-like stem is 



