94 White to Green and Brown Flowers 



die and drop off, is three-lobed and very large. The leaves 

 of the Green Lily are long and narrow and are covered with 

 a whitish bloom. 



Zygadenus venenosus, or Poisonous Green Lily, is a 

 slightly shorter, smaller species of this genus, also fre- 

 quently found in the mountain regions. Its yellowish-green 

 flowers grow closely together and it has roughish leaves. 

 So poisonous is this plant that animals frequently die from 

 the effects of eating it. 



INDIAN HELLEBORE 



Veratrum viride. Lily Family 



Stems: stout, tall, very leafy. Leaves: acute, strongly veined, short- 

 petioled, sheathing, the upper ones successively narrower, those of the 

 inflorescence small. Flowers: panicles long, pubescent, densely many- 

 flowered, its lower branches spreading. 



This is by far the largest and handsomest green-flowered 

 plant which grows in the mountains. Its foliage is im- 

 mense in size, bright green, and the leaves have a peculiar 

 plaited appearance. In the early spring the stout solid 

 spears of the Indian Hellebore push their way up through 

 the soil and soon begin to unfold with the increasing 

 warmth of the sun's rays. Then the long stiff spikes and 

 graceful pendent tassels of flowers commence to lengthen 

 and unfold, yellowish at first, and later on becoming greener. 

 The flowers are composed of six petals and have six whitish 

 stamens. 



Burton in his Anatomic of Melancholy refers to the al- 

 leged curative properties of the Hellebore as an antidote for 

 madness. 



" Borage and hellebore fill two scenes, 

 Sovereign plants to purge the veins 

 Of melancholy, and cheer the heart 

 Of those black fumes which make it smart." 



