WINTER ACONITE

also called New-Year's gift any of about seven species of perennial herbaceous plants constituting the genus Eranthis of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) native to the temperate regions of Europe and widely planted for their early spring flowers. The solitary blossoms, consisting of five to eight yellow sepals (petals are reduced or absent), arise on short stalks from tuberous roots. E. hyemalis, a frequently cultivated species, grows to about 20 centimetres (8 inches) or less and has flowers 2 1/2 cm across.