THE CHRISTMAS ROSE 
(Helleborus Niger.) 
The Hellebore belongs to the natural order Ranuncu- 
lacece, and to Polyandria-Polygynia of the Linns ean 
system. There are but few species in the genus, all or 
The Black Hellebore (H. niger) was used by the an¬ 
cients to purify their houses and hallow their dwellings; 
and they believed that strewing or perfuming their 
nearly all of which are natives of Southern Europe and 
Central Asia. They are perennial, low-growing plants, 
with a leathery texture, and a very disagreeable smell. 
They have creeping underground stems, the fibrous 
roots proceeding from which are very poisonous, and 
were formerly highly esteemed in medicine. Its name 
is derived from the river Eleborus, by whose banks it 
l^ r wui profusely, and which was so-called from the deadly 
nature of this plant seen in those who partook of it; 
Hs Greek derivatives meaning the Bread of Death. 
apartments with this plant would drive the evil spirit 
away. This ceremony was performed with great devo¬ 
tion, and accompanied with solemn hymns. In the 
same manner they blessed their cattle with Hellebore, 
and kept them free from the spells of the wicked. For 
these purposes it was dug up with many religious cere¬ 
monies, as that of first drawing a circle round the 
plant with a sword and then turning down to the East, 
an humble prayer was made by the devotee and Escula- 
pius for leave to dig up the root, and the flight of the 
