Foreign Vegetables. 25 
of Hellebore in the Shops, which are diftingufhed, 
as formerly, by their Colour, into white and black . 
1. Helleborus albus, feu Veratrum album , Off. White 
Hellebore of the Shops is an oblong tuberous Root, 
fometimes as thick as the Thumb and thicker, of a 
brown Colour on the outfide and white within, and 
full of white Fibres, having an acrid, fomewhat 
bitter, fubaftringent, difagreeable and naufeous Tafte. 
The Plant is called Veratrum jlore fubviridi. Inft . 
R. H. Helleborus albus Jlore fubviridi, C. B. P. Hel- 
leborus albus Jlore ex viridi albefcente , J. B. Helleborum 
album, five Veratrum, Lobel. Icon. 
Another Species of this Plant is diftinguifhed Ve - 
yatrum Jlore atrorubente , Inft. R. H. Helleborus albus 
Jlore atrorubente , C. B. P. Helleborum album, Jlore 
atrorubente, prcecox^ Lobel. Icon. It grows common 
in all the mountainous Parts of France, and very 
plentifully upon the Alps and Pyrenean Mountains. 
2. Helleborus niger, et Veratrum nigrum. Off \ 
Black Hellebore is a tuberous knotty Root, with 
a great Number of denfe Fibres fpringing from 
it, of a black Colour without and |whitifh within, 
having an acrid and bitter Tafte, producing a 
Kind of Naufea, and a very ftrong Smell when it 
is frelh. It is called by the Greeks Melampodion, 
from one Melampus a Phyfician, or according to 
others a Shepherd, who firft inftituted Purging, 
and thence took the Name of xaGccfru? or the Purger . 
It is reported, that when the Daughters of Pr<etus 
were feized with Madnefs, he cured them with 
thk Root. 
The Plant from which it is taken is the Hellebo- 
rus niger , anguftioribus foliis, Inft. R. H. Helleborus 
niger Jlore rofeo, C. B. P. Elleborus niger legitimus , 
Clus. Hift . It grows upon the Alps and Pyrenean 
Mountains, and is cultivated in Gardens, as well 
for Ornament as We. 
