WESTERN FALSE-HELLEBORE 



Vera'trum califor'nicum, syn. V. specio'sum 



W201 

 (2 leaves) 



Flowers dull white, numerous, some- 

 what bell-shaped, drooping, perfect 

 (lower sometimes male), bracted, 

 stalked, in a showy, branched end 

 cluster (panicle) up to 1 or 2. ft. long 



Petal-like parts (perianth) 6, about 

 ?s to % in. long, egg-shaped or reverse- 

 egg-shaped, blunt-tipped, greenish- 

 veined, often with a greenish, Y-shaped 

 spot at base 



Stamens 6, with 1-celled, shield- 

 shaped pollen sacs (anthers) 



Leaves alternate, usually 6 to 12 in. 

 long, bright yellowish green, boat- 

 shaped, prominently ribbed, somewhat 

 hairy, sheathing at their bases; upper 

 leaves becoming smaller 



Seed pod (capsule) oblong-egg- 

 shaped, 1 to IK in. long, 3-celled; 

 each cell with 12 to 15 oblong-lance- 

 shaped, flattened, whitish, broad- 

 winged seeds 



Stem somewhat resembling a corn- 

 stalk, 3 to 7 ft. high, stout, leafy, short- 

 white-woolly above 



Rootstock perennial, short, thick, 

 somewhat bulblike, dark-fibrous-coated 



<Z~ Roots coarse, fibrous, from lase of. 

 rootstock 



