Veratrum. 



MELANTHACEiE. 



317 



3. VERATRUM. Linn.; Gray in ann. lyc. N. York, 4. p. 117. VERATRUM. 



[ From the Latin, vere atrum, truly black ; in allusion to the color of the root.] 



Flowers polygamous. Leaflets of the perianth more or less united at the base, spreading or 

 somewhat erect, without claws or glands. Anthers reniform-globose ; the cells confluent at 

 the apex, shield-form after flowering. Styles short, subulate. Capsule ovoid, membrana- 

 ceous, 3-lobed ; the carpels distinct at the summit. Seeds 8 - 20 in each cell, with a broad 

 membranaceous wing. 



Subgenus Veratrum proper, Gray. Leaflets of the perianth obovate or oblong, scarcely acute, more 

 or less narrowed at the base, twice the length of the stamens. — S'ems robust, leafy : leaves ovate 

 or oblong, plicate, sheathing the stem at the base : panicle pyramidal, the branches mostly simple 

 and racemose : flowers yellowish green or dark purple. — Gray. 



1. Veratrum viride, Ait. White Hellebore. Indian Poke. 



Branches of the panicle finally spreading ; perianth spreading-campanulate ; the leaflets 

 oblong, somewhat narrowed at the base, about one-third longer than the stamens. — Ait. Kew. 

 (ed. 1.) 3. p. 896 ; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 242 ; Bigel. med. hot. t. 33, and fl. Bost. p. 374 ; Ell. 

 sk. 1. p. 419 ; Nutt. gen. 1. p. 233 ; Torr. fl. 1. p. 368 ; Beck, hot. p. 368 ; Darlingt. fl. 

 Cest. p. 232; Gray, I c. p. 118 ; Llook. fl. Bor.-Am. 2. p. 178 ; Kunth, enum. 4. p. 188. 

 V. album, Michx.fi. 1. p. 249, not of Linn. Helonias viridis, Bot. mag. t. 1096 (excl. syn.). 



Root thick and fleshy ; the lower part giving off numerous whitish fleshy fibres. Stem 

 2-4 feet high, very leafy, stout, pubescent. Leaves 6-10 inches long and 3-5 inches 

 wide, pubescent, strongly plaited and nerved, acuminate, clasping ; the upper ones gradually 

 diminishing in size till they become lanceolate bracts. Panicle 8-12 inches long ; the 

 branches simple or somewhat compound. Pedicels about 3 lines long. Flowers yellowish 

 green. Leaflets of the perianth denticulate on the thickened margin. Stamens rather longer 

 in the perfect than in the abortive flowers ; the filaments recurved. Styles about 2 lines long, 

 recurved. Capsule nearly an inch long, consisting of 3 follicular carpels united on the inner 

 side, and finally separating about half way down. Seeds 10-18 in each carpel, oblong 

 (including the broad wing), pale, acute at the apex ; the nucleus linear-oblong. Embryo oval, 

 in fleshy albumen. 



Swamps : common. Fl. May. Fr. July. This plant is nearly allied to the V. album of 

 Europe, and possesses similar active qualities. It is popular throughout the country as an 

 external remedy for cutaneous affections ; but it is dangerous when swallowed, even in small 

 quantities. Like many other plants of this natural order, it contains the very poisonous 

 principle called veratrine. 



