It flowers from March to 



14 FLOWERS OF THE WOODS AND COPSES 



than the S-io 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 i -celled fruits with 

 many seeds, with an erect style. 



The plant grows to a height of 2 ft. 

 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 

 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, Phyllosticta 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 viridis is the Latin for green. 



The English names for this plant are: Bear's-foot, Boar's Foot, 



GREKN HKI.LKBORE (Helleborus viridis, L.) 



