FALSE HELLEBORE
FALSE HELLEBORE
GENESIS NAME: Veratrum californium
DISTRIBUTION: WA, ID, MT, OR, CO, NV, UT, WY
SEASON: blooms July & August thru September
MEDICAL USE: Traditionally, the plant was used in small quantities orally as a medicine for pain. Roots were used dried to topically treat bruises, sprains, and fractures. ... The ground dried root has effective pesticide properties. First Nations people were also growing green false hellebore to grind the root and use as laundry soap.
POISONOUS: Symptoms of false hellebore poisoning include burning sensation in the mouth and throat, excessive salivation, cold sweat, headache, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain and gastrointestinal distress (diarrhea, gas), slow respiration and breathing difficulty, slow and irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, and spasms .
EDIBILITY:
FEATURES: False hellebore flowers are on erect 24 inch long (61 cm.) stems with clusters of 3/4 inch (2 cm.) yellow, star-shaped florets. The roots of this plant are poisonous and leaves and flowers are toxic and may cause illness.
LEAVES: Leaves of false hellebore may measure 20 to 30 cm long and 7 to 15 cm broad. Cream-colored flowers grow in clusters at the top of a single unbranched stalk in a way that resembles corn.
FRUITS: Seed pods turn black as they ripen.
DISTRIBUTION: WA, ID, MT, OR, CO, NV, UT, WY
SEASON: blooms July & August thru September
MEDICAL USE: Traditionally, the plant was used in small quantities orally as a medicine for pain. Roots were used dried to topically treat bruises, sprains, and fractures. ... The ground dried root has effective pesticide properties. First Nations people were also growing green false hellebore to grind the root and use as laundry soap.
POISONOUS: Symptoms of false hellebore poisoning include burning sensation in the mouth and throat, excessive salivation, cold sweat, headache, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain and gastrointestinal distress (diarrhea, gas), slow respiration and breathing difficulty, slow and irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, and spasms .
EDIBILITY:
FEATURES: False hellebore flowers are on erect 24 inch long (61 cm.) stems with clusters of 3/4 inch (2 cm.) yellow, star-shaped florets. The roots of this plant are poisonous and leaves and flowers are toxic and may cause illness.
LEAVES: Leaves of false hellebore may measure 20 to 30 cm long and 7 to 15 cm broad. Cream-colored flowers grow in clusters at the top of a single unbranched stalk in a way that resembles corn.
FRUITS: Seed pods turn black as they ripen.
DESCRIPTION:
False hellebore, or veratrum (sometimes called wild corn or cow cabbage), is a range plant that causes severe poisoning in sheep. It also affects cattle and goats. If ewes, nanny goats, and cows eat it during early pregnancy, false hellebore causes deformities in the offspring. Sheep and goats readily eat leaves and plant tops. Cattle may eat it if other forage is scarce.
False hellebore is poisonous from the time it starts to grow until after it is killed by freezing, but toxicity decreases as plants mature. The roots are 5 to 10 times as poisonous as leaves or stems. The poisonous substances in false hellebore are steroidal alkaloids. False hellebore grows in damp or seepage areas, on meadows, and on hillsides. The plant reaches a height of 1.5 to 2 meters. It is a robust perennial of the lily family.
Leaves of false hellebore may measure 20 to 30 cm long and 7 to 15 cm broad. Cream-colored flowers grow in clusters at the top of a single unbranched stalk in a way that resembles corn. Seed pods turn black as they ripen.
False hellebore is poisonous from the time it starts to grow until after it is killed by freezing, but toxicity decreases as plants mature. The roots are 5 to 10 times as poisonous as leaves or stems. The poisonous substances in false hellebore are steroidal alkaloids. False hellebore grows in damp or seepage areas, on meadows, and on hillsides. The plant reaches a height of 1.5 to 2 meters. It is a robust perennial of the lily family.
Leaves of false hellebore may measure 20 to 30 cm long and 7 to 15 cm broad. Cream-colored flowers grow in clusters at the top of a single unbranched stalk in a way that resembles corn. Seed pods turn black as they ripen.