58 



— xj V 



HELLEBORUS olympicus. 



Olympian Hellebore. 



POLYANDRIA PENTAGYNIA. 



Nat. ord. Ranunculaceje. 



HELLEBORUS. Botanical Register, vol. 19. t. 1643 



H. olympicus ; foliis radicalibus palmatisectis ; segmentis oblongo-linearibus 

 serratis basi integris, caule bifloro, foliis floralibus subsessilibus, sepalis 

 ovatis obtusis herbaceis. Bot. Reg. 1841. misc. 1 13. 



_ - • 



A native of the Bithynian Olympus, whence it was sent 

 to the Horticultural Society by Mr. Sandison, Her Majesty's 

 Consul at Brusa. 



The observations made upon the Eastern Hellebore, at 

 tab. 34t of this volume, apply equally to this so far as its 

 habits are concerned. We have therefore only to address 

 ourselves on the present occasion to what concerns its specific 

 differences. 



The following may be stated to be the principal distinc- 

 tions between H. olympicus, and such species as it seems 

 necessary to compare with it. 



From If. orientalis in its palmate, not pedate, leaves, 

 which are less acute, and more finely toothed; in its two 

 flowered stems ; and its smaller flowers which are pale green, 

 and not coloured like petals. 



From H. niger in its leafy scape, much longer than the 

 leaves, which are palmate and not pedate ; in the form of its 

 leaflets which are serrated almost to the base, and want the 

 almost rhombic form of that species. 



From H. viridis in its firmer leaves, which are not pedate, 

 and want the setaceous teeth of that species, and are perfectly 

 sessile instead of being extended into a thin leafy petiole. 



