C 8 ] 
Helleborus Niger. Black Hellebore, 
or Christmas Rose. 
Clafs and Order. 
PoLYANDRIA PoLYGYNIA. 
Generic Char after. | 
Calyx nullus. Petala 5 five plura. Ne&aria bilabiata, tubu* 
lata. Capfulae polyfpermae, ereHiufculce. 
Specific Char after and Synonyms . 
HELLEBORUS nigerfcapo fub-bifloro fubnudo, foliispeda* 
tis. Linn. Syfi. Veg. p. 431. Sp. PL p . 783* 
HELLEBORUS niger flore rofeo. Bauh. Pin. 186. 
The true Black Hellebore, or Chriftmas flower. Parkin/- 
Parad. p. 344. 
As our Publication feems likely to fall into the hands of 
fuch as are totally unacquainted with Botany, or botanical 
writings, it mud plead as an apology for our often explaining 
many circumftances relative to plants, which may be well 
known to adepts in the fcience. 
This plant derives its firft name from the black colour of | ts 
roots, its fecond from its early flowering and the colour of k s 
petals, which, though generally milk-white on their firft aP“ 
pearance, yet have frequently a tint of red in them, which 
increafes with the age of the bloflom, and finally changes to 
green j in fome fpecies of Hellebore, particularly the viridti, 
the flower is green from firft to laft. 
Black Hellebore grows wild on the Appenine and other 
mountains, preferring fuch as are rocky. 
If the weather be unufually mild, it will flower in our gar* 
dens in the open borders as early as December and |anuary; h 
may indeed be confidered as the herald of approaching fpring* 
Like molt other alpine plants, it loves a pure air, a fituatiofl 
moderately moift, and a foil unmanured: as the beauty of it* 
flowers is apt to be deftroyed by fevere frofts, it fhould be co* 
vered during the winter with a hand-glafs, or if it be treated 
in the manner recommended for the round-leav d Cyclamen 
it may be had to flower in ftill greater perfetlion. 
It is propagated by parting its roots in autumn : neither 
this fpecies nor the hyemalts thrive very near London, 
