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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