WHITE AND GREENISH WILD FLOWERS 



with a shorter calyx, and is more or less hairy. It is 

 found from Ontario to New Jersey, Florida and Ala- 

 bama. 



AMERICAN WHITE HELLEBORE. INDIAN 

 POKE. ITCH-WEED 



Viratrum viride. Lily Family. 



In rich, moist woods, swamps, and wet meadows, 

 and usually associated with the Skunk Cabbage and 

 Marsh Marigold, the rank-growing foliage of the 

 Hellebore flourishes with a tropical vigorousness. 

 The stout, leafy stalk rises from two to eight feet in 

 height, and is round smooth, and green. The large, 

 hairy, bright green leaves are deeply pleated with 

 numerous parallel ribs, and are broadly oval, and 

 tapering at the apex. They clasp the stalk, and 

 graduate in size as they approach the top. The lower 

 leaves are often a foot long. The numerous, unattrac- 

 tive, dull yellowish-green flowers have six spreading, 

 petal-like parts and six short, curved stamens. They 

 are densely crowded on rather open, branching ter- 

 minal spikes, and each flower is guarded with a small 

 leaflet. The rootstock is long and thick with many 

 fleshy, fibrous rootlets. It has a disagreeable odour, 

 and is very poisonous, but possesses important medi- 

 cinal qualities. The stiff, spear-like shoots are very 

 noticeable in the early spring. The species is also 

 found along mountain streams from May to July, 

 and ranges from Alaska and the British Possessions 

 south to Minnesota, Tennessee and Georgia. Five 



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