14 FLOWERS OF THE WOODS AND COPSES 
than the 8-10 petals, which are tubular and bilobed, and are shorter 
than the stamens, which are numerous, curved, and veined one side. 
The leaves also have prominent veins below. The honey-glands are 
half as long as the stamens. The few fruits are r-celled fruits with 
many seeds, with an erect style. 
The plant grows to a height of 2 ft. It flowers from March to 
April and is perennial and deciduous. 
The stigma is ripe first. 
The petals are minute but 
secrete honey. The 3-4 
yellowish- green flowers 
open widely, and there is 
abundant honey, but the 
inconspicuous character of 
the flower causes it to be 
less visited than would be 
expected. Owing to the 
pendulous nature of the 
flower it is protected from 
the rain and from some 
classes of insects. The 
styles turn outwards and 
then are just beneath 
the nectar-bearing petals. 
Afterwards they turn up- 
wards. By this time the 
anthers are ripe and take 
their place. The flower is 
visited by bees and humble 
ee. Cry tei ee] 
Photo, Messrs, Flatters & Garnett 
GREEN HELLEBORE (felleborus viridis, L.) 
bees. 
Hellebore is aided in dispersal by the wind. The follicle which 
opens above contains many seeds, which are blown out of the ripe 
fruit by the wind. 
This plant is more or less a lime-lover, frequenting chalk or lime- 
stone districts, but is also fond of humus, requiring the humus soil of a 
woodland habitat in which there is also a lime soil mixed. 
A fungus, Phylosticta helleborella, is parasitic upon this plant, 
and on the Continent Phytomyza hellebori attacks it. 
The generic name is the Latinized form of the Greek name, 
while vrzd7s is the Latin for green. 
The English names for this plant are: Bear’s-foot, Boar's Foot, 
