C 72 ] 
HelleboRus lividus* Livid or purple 
. Hellebore. 
Clafs and Order. 
Polyandria Polygynia. 
Generic Character. 
Cal. nullus. Pet ala- 5. five plura. NcElaria, bilabiata, tubulata. 
Cap/, polyfpermae, ere&iufculae. 
v Specific Character. 
HELLEBORUS lividus caule multifioro foliofo, foliis ter- 
natis. Ait. Hort . Kew. ined. 2. p. 272. 
It is not a little extraordinary that this plant, which has for 
many years been cultivated in this country, lhould have 
efcaped the notice of Linnaus j it is' equally wonderful 
that we lhould at this moment be ftrangers to its place of 
growth. ~ . 
Having three leaves growing together, it has been oonfi- 
dercd by many as the trtfoliatus of Li n n m u s, but his trifoliatus 
is' a very different plant, a native of Canada, producing fmail 
yellow flowers. 
It has been ufual to treat this fpecies as a green-houfe plant, 
or at leaft to Ihelter it under a frame in the winter; probably 
it is more hardy than we imagine. 
It is propagated by parting its roots in autumn, and by feeds, 
though few of the latter in general ripen, nor do the roots 
make much increafe— to fchefe caufes we mull doubtlefs 
attribute its prefent comparative fcarcity. 
It flowers as early as February; on which account, as 
well as that of its Angularity, it is a very defirable plant in 
collections. - v 
