false hellebore

[ fawls hel-uh-bawr ]

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of false hellebore¹

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

False hellebore was abundant, and on the very top stood a poison sumac—a typical bog plant.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg