MELANTHACE^. 



Nat. syst. ed. 2. p. 347. 



VERATRUM. 



Flowers polygamous. Perianth 6-parted; segments broad, 

 concave, imbricating, nearly equal, striated, not excavated at the 

 base. Stamens 6, equal, inserted into the base of the segments ; 

 filaments subulate ; anthers reniform with confluent cells. Ovary 

 with 3 divaricating stigmas. Capsule 3-horned, separating into 

 3 many-seeded follicles. Seeds compressed,, winged at the 

 apex. 



1236. V. viride Ait. Hort. Ken: iii. 422. Bigelow med. hot. ii. 

 t. 33. R. and S. vii. 1556. — Veratrum album Mich. fi. bor. 

 am. ii. 249. Helonias viridis Bot. Mag. t. 1096. — Common in 

 the United States in swamps and wet meadows in the spring. 



Rhizoma thick and fleshy, its upper portion tunicated, its lower 

 half solid and sending forth a multitude of large whitish roots. 

 Stem from 3 to 5 feet high, roundish, solid, striated and pubescent, 

 throughout the greater part of its length closely invested with the 

 sheathing bases of the leaves. Lower leaves large, from \ a foot to a 

 foot long, oval, acuminate, pubescent, strongly plaited and nerved; the 

 lower part of their edges meeting round the stem; upper leaves 

 gradually narrower ; the uppermost, or bracts, linear-lanceolate. Flowers 

 numerous, in compound racemes axillary from the upper leaves, and 

 terminal ; the whole forming a sort of panicle. Peduncles roundish, 

 downy. Bracts boat-shaped, acuminate, downy. Pedicels many times 

 shorter than the bracts. Perianth divided into 6 green, oval, acute, 

 nerved segments, of which the alternate ones are longest ; all the seg- 

 ments contracted at base into a sort of claw with a thickened or carti- 

 laginous edge. Stamens 6 with recurved filaments and roundish, 2- 

 lobed anthers. Carpels 3, cohering, with acute recurved styles as long 

 as the stamens. A part of the flowers are barren and have only the 

 rudiments of styles, so that the plant is strictly polygamous. The seed 

 vessel consists of 3 capsules united together, separating at top and 

 opening on their inner side. Seeds flat, winged, imbricated. — The 

 roots are an acrid emetic and powerful stimulant followed by sedative 

 effects. In all respects it closely resembles Veratrum album in its 

 properties. 



1237. V. album Linn. sp. pi. 1479. Mert. and Koch d.fi. 

 ii. 625. Bieb. taur. cauc. xi. 445. Jacq.fl. austr. t. 335. Woodv. 

 t. 100. R. and S. vii. 1554. — Meadows in the South of Eu- 

 rope, from Spain to the Caucasus. (White Hellebore.) 



Rhizoma somewhat horizontal, oblong, praemorse, the thickness of a 

 finger, blackish externally, whitish internally. Stem 1^-4 feet high. 

 585 



