RANUNCULACEAE. 57 
Britannica as stating that the plant had “ the appearance of a 
native, certainly of a denizen,”’ near Arnside Knott, Westmoreland. 
England. Perennial. Spring. 
Rootstock a short oblique, blackish, fleshy rhizome. Stem erect, 
striated, 1 foot to 18 inches high, sheathed at the base, slightly 
branched at the apex, bare of leaves from the base to the first 
branch. Root leaves not fully developed until after the period of 
flowering, on long stalks, with 3 or 5 sessile leaflets, of which the 
lateral one on each side is deeply cleft, or divided into 2, 3, or 4 
segments resembling the undivided central leaflets, which are 
narrowly elliptical, ‘acuminate, with rather large serrations, and 
sometimes a few small, pointed lobes. Lower stem leaves with short 
semi-amplexicaul sheath-like petioles, the uppermost ones or bracts 
sessile, cut or partite into segments like those of the radical leaves, 
but fewer in number, and less acuminate; sometimes the highest 
bracts are undivided, being elliptical, with serrated edges. Flowers 
terminating the branches, seldom more than 3 or 4 on each stem, 
slightly drooping, 14 to 2 inches in diameter, pale yellowish green. 
Sepals 5, oval-obtuse, or very shortly acuminate. Petals 9 to 12, 
about two-thirds as long as the stamens, curved, the claw about 
one-fourth the length of "the whole, the outer lip very little longer 
than the inner one, erose at the apex. Pistils usually 3, with styles 
exceeding the stamens. Carpels sessile, slightly connate at their 
base, sub-cylindrical, obliquely truncate at the apex, and tipped by 
the persistent style, which forms a beak more than one-half the 
length of the carpel. Whole plant glabrous, deep green, the leaves 
shining above, paler beneath where the veins are prominent. Stems 
annual. 
Green Hellebore. 
French, J/ellébore Vert. German, Die Griine Niesswure, 
The generic name of this plant, from edey (elein), to injure, and [opa (bora), food, 
indicates its poisonous qualities, and the specific name its green colour. The Hellebores 
afforded the ancient practitioners of medicine quite a world of remedies to revel in. They 
were called generally by the name veratrwm, and were supposed to be most valuable 
ingredients in medicine. Of the cathartic and powerful effect of the Black Hellebore 
or Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger) there can be no doubt, although one 
celebrated physician says he administered it six hundred times without offence. 
It certainly requires great caution in its use; for its degree of acridity depends 
much on heat, dryness and other external casualties. One judicious writer 
observes: “It is used by venturesome quacks in decoction and coarse powder to 
kill worms in the body, which it never faileth to do; where it killeth not the 
patient, it would certainly kill the worms ; but the worst of it is, it will sometimes do 
both.” The great hazard of such remedies being ignorantly employed, is seen from the 
account of its effects when administered in doses not absolutely fatal : “ With some it 
violently vomits and rendereth heartsick even to swooning ; and if through strength of 
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