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Veratrum viride Aiton. White-hellebore, Indian Poke, Green Hellebore, Cornhusk Lily, "Skunk Cabbage". Phen: Jun-Aug; Jul-Sep. Hab: Seeps, streambanks, wet boulderfields. Dist: QC and ON south in the mountains to NC, TN, and ne. GA.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: The closely related V. eschscholtzii A. Gray, sometimes treated as V. viride ssp. eschscholtzii (A. Gray) A. Löve & D. Löve or V. viride var. eschscholtzii (A. Gray) Breitung, is western, ranging from AK to OR and n. CA. It differs in its yellower flowers (vs. greenish), its strongly drooping inflorescence branches (vs. ascending to spreading), and its erect flower disposition (vs. spreading); these taxa seem clearly to be separate evolutionary entities warranting species rank.

Other Comments: This plant is strongly poisonous; an insecticide was formerly manufactured from the roots.

Synonymy: = AqW, C, F, G, GW1, NY, Pa, RAB, S, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WV, Zomlefer (1997a); = Veratrum viride Aiton ssp. viride – NE; = Veratrum viride Aiton var. viride – FNA26; < Veratrum viride Aiton – K1, K3, K4

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACW

Heliophily: 5

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image of plant© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Will Stuart | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷

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