Veratrum nigrum

Veratrum nigrum, the black false hellebore, is a widespread Eurasian species of perennial flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. Despite its common name, V. nigrum is not closely related to the true hellebores, nor does it resemble them.

Black false hellebore
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Liliales
Family: Melanthiaceae
Genus: Veratrum
Species:
V. nigrum
Binomial name
Veratrum nigrum
Synonyms
Synonymy
  • Veratrum purpureum Salisb.
  • Melanthium nigrum (L.) Thunb.
  • Helonias nigra (L.) Ker Gawl.
  • Veratrum bracteatum Batalin
  • Veratrum nigrum var. ussuriense O.Loes.
  • Veratrum nigrum var. microcarpum Loes.
  • Veratrum ussuriense (O.Loes.) Nakai
  • Veratrum nigrum subsp. ussuriense (O.Loes.) Vorosch.

The plant was widely known even in ancient times. For example, Lucretius (ca. 99 BCE – ca. 55 BCE) and Pliny the Elder (23 AD – August 25, 79) both knew of its medicinal emetic as well as deadly toxic properties.

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