The White Veratrum 



{VERATRUM ALBUM) 



The White Veratrum is a tall weed with large green leaves, 

 very abundant in moist meadows and pastures in all parts of 

 the Alps between 2000 and 6000 feet. Before the flowers 

 appear it strongly suggests one of the larger Gentians, but 

 the flowers, which come out in July and August, are quite 

 different. It is a widely distributed plant, being found in 

 Russia, Siberia, Lapland, as well as in most of the mountain 

 ranges of Central and Southern Europe. It appears to have 

 been left as a relic of the glacial period in the higher parts 

 of Silesia and the Black Forest. The large green leaves are 

 downy beneath, and the flowers, which are always green 

 externally, may be pure white (var. typicum\ or more commonly 

 yellowish- green (var. Lohelianum\ internally. Some would 

 regard these two varieties as distinct species. The whole 

 plant is extremely poisonous. Sometimes it is eaten by the 

 sheep and goats with disastrous results to the herdsmen, 

 but the cattle are wiser and rarely make this mistake. The 

 poison is an alkaloid Veratrin, which is contained in largest 

 quantities in the root from which it is extracted for medical 

 purposes. If the root be tasted it will at first appear sweet, 

 but its acrid, bitter flavour soon overpowers this first 

 impression. The Swiss herdsmen look upon the White 

 Veratrum as a noxious weed, not only because of its poisonous 



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