VERA'TRUM NI'GRUM. 
DARK-FLOWERED VERATRUM. 
Class. Order. 
POLYGAMIA. MONCECIA. 
Natural Order. 
melanthacea:. 
Native of 
Height 
Flowers in 
Duration 
Cultivated 
Siberia. 
5 feet. 
July. 
Perennial. 
in 1596. 
No. 927. 
Veratrum, says Sir J. E. Smith, which some de- 
rive from vere atrum, truly black, because the 
root is, externally at least, of that colour, may more 
safely be left amongst those ancient names whose 
origin is unknown. It occurs in Lucretius and 
Pliny, indicating some very active or poisonous 
plant; and is generally supposed synonymous with 
the Helleboros leukos of Dioscorides, itself 
rather doubtful, and whose particular designation 
is a contradiction to the above etymology. What- 
ever difficulties may attend the determination of 
the ancient Veratrum, this name is now universally 
applied to the present genus. 
There is not, we think, in spring, any hardy 
plant in our gardens, which produces a display of 
foliage so exceedingly handsome as the Veratrum 
nigrum. Its root leaves spring up of a delicate green 
colour, and gradually expand their manifold dou- 
blings; for, as Gerard says, they are “folded into 
pleats like a garment pleated to bee laied vp in a 
chest.” Its erect stems of flowers, too, although 
of sombre hue, are sure to catch the eye of the cas- 
ual visitor. Snails also, do not fail to find out the 
