Syn.: Thymelaea mezereum (L.) Scop., Thymelaea praecox Gilib.
Family: Thymelaeaceae Juss.
Distribution: Europe (excluding the northernmost areas), in Asia from Urals to lake Baikal, apart on Caucasus, Altay and Western China.
Ecology: It grows in deciduous woods from lowlands to mountains. It flowers from March to April.
Description: Deciduous shrub with erect greyish twigs, 30–100(–150) cm tall. Leaves alternate, lanceolate to oblanceolate, pale green. The fragrant rosy-purple flowers appear before the leaves. The fruits are globose, orange-red drupes.
Threat and protection: The Mezereon is an endangered species in some countries (CZ).
Note: All parts of the plant are poisonous. The bark is the medicinal part. A tincture is used in homeopathy.
These images were taken in Czechia, Brno – Hády, Hrubý Jeseník – Velká kotlina (from 15. 7. to 7. 9. 2003 and from 14. 3. to 28. 3. 2004).
