130 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



Helleborus Cupreus. 



COPPERY HELLEBORE ; Nat. Ord. RANTJNCTJLACEJE. 

 NOTWITHSTANDING its peculiar colour, as implied by the name, 

 tliis is a pleasing border flower ; moreover, the somewhat large 

 flowers are also numerous ; blossoms 3in. across, arranged in 

 clusters of four and six, and handsomely furnished with new 

 foliage, are no mean things in the depth of winter. The specific 

 name of this Hellebore, though applicable, is not so definite as 

 some, inasmuch as the colour to which it refers is that of several 

 other species and varieties ; there may be rather more of the 

 metallic hue in our subject, but it is so slight as to be outside 

 the pale of notice to the florist. The Coppery Hellebore is a 

 native of mid-Europe, and is one of recent introduction into this 

 country, where it proves hardy but annually dies down. It grows 

 and flowers freely in January, the flower stalks appearing before 

 the radical foliage, and attaining a height of nearlya foot. 



The flower stems are a palish green, with purplish markings, 

 are twice branched and furnished with floral leaves ; the latter 

 have ample stipules and seven longish divisions, which are well 

 spread out, distinctly veined underneath, and coarsely toothed. 

 The flowers are 2in. to Bin. across, sepals pointed, overlapping 

 for about half their length, and well expanded ; their outsides 

 are of a purplish colour, which extends along the stalk; the 

 inner surface of the sepals is a yellowish green, the whole being 

 suffused with a metallic hue or " bloom " ; the stamens and 

 anthers are a creamy white, the petals short and apple-green. 

 The flowers droop gracefully, and are rendered all the more 

 pleasing by the floral leaves which immediately support them. 

 The leaves of the root are large and pedate, the divisions wide 

 apart and unevenly toothed; the under sides are distinctly 

 veined with purplish-brown when in a young state. The habit 

 is robust, and the bloom is produced well above the radical 

 foliage. There is a peculiar beauty about a strong flowering 

 specimen which would hardly be expected from the above de- 

 scription, and it is even more difficult for me to do it justice. 



In a cut state a whole stem, with its flowers in different stages 

 of development, is fine. The youngest rosy-purple buds, about 

 the size of a cob nut ; the more opened bell-shaped forms, just 

 showing both the inner and outer colours of the sepals ; these 

 surmounted by the longer- stalked, fully expanded, but dropping 

 flower, with its tassel -like bunch of stamens, and all finely inter- 

 spersed with young leaves of two distinct colours, according 

 to the side which meets the eye all go to make ifc a charming 

 decoration for indoors, and if cut clean it deserves a place for 

 the whole week or more during which it remains in good form. 



Cultivation, as for H. Abchasicus. 



Flowering period, January to March. 



