BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA. 101 
tention, which is, that we cannot call a plant 
spurious or false if it resembles the true in ev- 
ery particular save in the size and color of its 
flower, for this may be due only to climatic in- 
fluences; but when the medicinal virtues are to 
be considered, we must undoubtedly note what 
soil and climate may do to rob the plant of those 
particular virtues. 
Veratrum Viride, Green Veratrum, Ameri- 
can Hellebore, White Hellebore, Indian Polk, 
Swamp Hellebore, Earthgall, etc., etc.—Natu- 
ral order Melanthacez or Liliaceae. The stem 
of the Veratrum Viride attains the height of 2 
to 3 feet (60 to go centimeters), bearing upon its 
surface elliptic lanceolate leaves, which are pu- 
bescent on the under surface and pass obliquely 
into a sheath. The flowers are in clustered 
racemes, with a terminal pubescence. The 
flowers, polygamous, and of a green, inclining 
to yellow and white, in color; stamens, six in 
number; anthers kidney-shaped; the ovary has 
three stigmas, three capsules and three seeds. 
The seeds are compressed in shape and winged. 
This indigenous species of Veratrum is abun- 
dant in the Northern States, but it is to be found 
as far South as the Carolinas. Some botanists 
think it identical to the Veratrum Album of the 
mountainous districts of Europe. The rhizome, 
as found in commerce, is oblong and very irreg- 
ular in shape, having the appearance of being 
bitten off (pramorse). It is about 2 inches (5 
centimeters) long and about ¥% inch (12 milli- 
meters) in diameter, of a dark-gray color exter- 
nally, internally of a creamy-white. Veratrum 
has little or no odor, but has a bitter and in- 
