Veratrum L.

4. Veratrum L. 2

Robust, rhizomatous perennial herbs. Rhizomes stout, vertical, clothed above with remains of leaf-sheaths. Stems simple, fistular, leafy. Leaves alternate, broadly ovate to elliptical, manyveined, suberect and overlapping, narrowed into a long sheathing base. Flowers numerous, in a terminal panicle or raceme, hermaphrodite or occasionally male. Perianth-segments widely patent, white, greenish, reddish-brown or -black, elliptical to lanceolate, free to the base, persistent in fruit. Stamens 6, inserted at the base of the perianth-segments. Fruit a 3-locular capsule. Seeds numerous.

Leavesglabrous, the upper linear-lanceolate; pedicels about equalling or slightly longer than the bracts; perianth-segments

3 -5- 7 mm, reddish-brown to -black 1. nigrum Leaves shortly pubescent beneath, the upper broadly lanceolate; pedicels much shorter than the bracts; perianth-segments 7—15 mm, white to green or yellow 2. album