104 AS CALIFORNIA FLOWERS GROW 



trum has hundreds of seed-cases. As she holds the 

 dry capsules aloft, the wind rushes sibilantly 

 through them. If you lie still near a clump of Vera- 

 trum in September, you can hear all sorts of conver- 

 sations in most expressive accents. 



It is said that the leaves and root of Veratrum are 

 poisonous to stock. Of the root, I have no knowl- 

 edge; but I do know from personal observation 

 during many summers in the Sierras that cattle eat 

 the leaves and flowers and show no evidence of ill- 

 ness. Certain insects relish the chlorophyl, the 

 green tissue, of the leaves. One morning you will 

 admire a magnificent group of Veratrum, glossy 

 green leaves and beautiful creamy spire. The next, 

 the leaves will be blanched, with a thin tissue over 

 their veins, looking a skeleton under a veil. Who 

 does the mischief? I do not know; but the work is 

 swift and deadly. 



Because of the similarity in the green base leaves, 

 some people mistake Veratrum for Skunk Cabbage; 

 but that is quite a different plant, with yellow flow- 

 ers and it does not seek the Sierras. The name 

 often applied to Veratrum, "False Hellebore," 

 always makes me impatient. I have never under- 

 stood why any plant should be dubbed "false." 

 Even if it resembles some older species, it must 

 have enough individuality to deserve a name of its 

 very own. In human nomenclature, we may call the 



