HELLEBORUS niger. 

 Black Hellebore or Christmas Rose. 



Class and Order. — Polyandria Polygynia. 

 Syn. Helleborus niger. Curt. Bot. Mug. pi. 8. 



Root tuberous — leaves radical, on long channelled petioles, pedate, lobes 

 oblong, margins serrate near the apex — scape radical, simple, — flower 

 terminal — calyx none — bracteas immediately under the flower, two, 

 sessile — corolla white, slightly tinged with pale pink and yellowish 

 green, — petals five, large, orbicular, margins undulate — nectaries green, 

 tubular — stamens numerous — anthers compressed — styles many. 



There are few flowers more welcome to us thau the Helleborus 



niger, which enlivens our gardens in the dreary months of December 



and January. It is a native of the mountains of Austria, and was 



introduced into this country about the year 1596, by Mr. John Gerard; 



it derives its name from the dark color of its roots, and the common 



appellation of the Chiistmas Rose, arises from the peculiar season of 



its flowering-; being an alpine plant it delights in a pure aii', and it 



grows best in a moist situation and strong loamy soil : it may be covered 



with a hand-glass when coming into bloom, as the beauty of the flower 



is liable to be destroyed by the severity of the weather. Considerable 



medicinal properties were ascribed to tliis plant by the ancients, but it 



is now seldom used. There are several other species, but only two of 



these are generally cultivated — the first mentioned is a British plant. 



H. viridis. 



— lividus. 

 PI. 52. 



