hellebore

[Latin helleborus, helleborum; Gr. helleboros, elleboros =hellebore; various plants, all poisonous, but used as remedies in mental diseases, and specially, it is believed, Helleborus ori entalis [1. (2).] The second element in Gr. helle boros is probably bora =food; the first is uncertain.] 1. Botany: The genus Helleborus (q. v.). (2) The genus Veratrum, one of the Melanthacese, 2. Phar.: Veratri virid is radix , Green Hellebore root. The dried rhizome of Veratrum viride , grow ing in swampy districts of the United States. It has a peculiar acrid taste. It is used to control the vascular system in cases of rheumatic gout. It causes depre ion and slowne of the pulse. The Black Hellebore of the ancients was Helle bor us officinal is , the modern one, H. niger. [CHRISTMAS-ROSE.] It is reputed to be a drastic purgative. Stinking Hellebore is H. fœtid us ; American White or Swamp Hellebore is Veratrum viride ; False Hellebore, the genus Veratrum; White Hellebore, V. album ; and Winter Hellebore, Eran thus hyemalis. [HELLEBORUS.] White Hellebore is used by gardeners to destroy the gooseberry caterpillar and other insects. hěl-le-bor-ě-æ, subst . pl . [Lat. hellebor ( us ); fem. pl. adj. suff. -eœ .] Bof.: A tribe of Ranunculacese. The calyx is imbricated in æstivation; the fruit consists of many-seeded follicles.