false hellebore

American  

[fawls hel-uh-bawr] / ˈfɔls ˈhɛl əˌbɔr /

noun

1. any of various plants of the genus Veratrum, family Melanthiaceae, with highly poisonous black rhizomes, including V. viride, with clusters of yellowish-green flowers, native to eastern and western North America: now rarely used in medicine, the alkaloids from false hellebores were once used in a number of treatments, as for high blood pressure.

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Etymology

Origin of false hellebore

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

The false hellebore may be found in midsummer in the mountains.

From The Wild Flowers of California: Their Names, Haunts, and Habits by Parsons, Mary Elizabeth

The flowers which by their profusion and brilliancy most attract attention are, among myriads, the lupine, yucca, goldenrod, shooting star, ragwort, Queen Ann's lace, bears clover, false hellebore, many gilias, pentstemons, and monkey flowers.

From Sequoia [California] National Park by United States. Dept. of the Interior