Member of either of two genera of poisonous herbaceous plants, Helleborus ( buttercup family) and Veratrum ( lily family ).
Some are grown as garden ornamentals. Helleboru s consists of about 20 species of perennial plants native to Eurasia; most are nearly stemless, with thick roots and long-stalked, divided leaves and showy flowers. Veratrum contains about 45 species, better called false hellebores, native widely to damp areas of the Northern Hemisphere. They have simple leaves and clusters of small flowers.
Green hellebore ( Helleborus viridis )
G.E. Hyde
The Natural History Photographic Agency/EB Inc.