Aconites, winter

Bulbs are normally planted when dormant, as dry bulbs. For spring displays, bulbs must be put in the ground in fall summer- and fallflowering bulbs are planted in spring. Only the very small bulbs such as snowdrops and winter aconites are usually planted while in leaf, just after flowering, as they can easily dry out. If you have to plant them as dry bulbs, soak them for 24 hours in lukewarm water prior to planting. 

DAURA, HELLEBORE — Winter Aconite. Others say that it is Gold-leaf DEBESSIS — i.e., Tortoise-shell. 

Eranthis hyemalis lectin (EHL) from winter aconite... 

Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number CAS 1393-62-0. Abrin is a toxalbumin similar in structure, absorption, and mechanism of action to ricin but is found not in castor beans but rather in jequirity beans. No reports of its use as a battlefield or terrorist agent exist, but in mice it is 75 times more potent than ricin. No specific treatment is available. Both ricin and abrin are type 2 ribosomal inhibitory proteins (RIPs) the other potent toxins in this class are Eranthis hyemalis lectin (EHL) from winter aconite, modeccin and volkensin from African succulents, and viscumin from mistletoe. 

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