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Veratrum nigrum - Black false hellebore

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Veratrum nigrum, Black false hellebore

Veratrum nigrum (common name black false hellebore) is a widespread Eurasian species of perennial flower of the family Melanthiaceae. Despite its common name, V. nigrum is not closely related to the true hellebores, nor does it resemble them.

The plant was widely known even in ancient times. For example, Lucretius (ca. 99 BCE – ca. 55 BCE) and Pliny the Elder (23 AD – August 25, 79) both knew of its medicinal emetic as well as deadly toxic properties.

Uses

lower blood pressure, slow heart rate, hypertension, cardiac failure, pre-eclampsia, cancers, skin disorders.

Parts Used

wholeplant.

Chemical Composition

One new steroid alkaloid, 12β-hydroxylveratroylzygadenine and four known compounds, verdine, jervine, veramarine, and veratroylzygadenine, have been isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Veratrum nigrum L.[1]

Common names

Language Common name
Kannada āvarike
Hindi Tarwar
Malayalam
Tamil āvārai
Telugu taṃgēḍu
Marathi NA
Gujarathi NA
Punjabi NA
Kashmiri NA
Sanskrit Aaavartaki
English Avaram senna


Habit

Herbaceous Perennial

Identification

Leaf

Kind Shape Feature
alternate stipulate The leaves are alternate, stipulate, paripinnate compound, very numerous, closely placed, rachis 8.8-12.5 cm long, narrowly furrowed, slender, pubescent, with an erect linear gland between the leaflets of each pair, leaflets 16-24, very shortly stalked 2-2.5 cm long 1-1.3 cm broad, slightly overlapping, oval oblong, obtuse, at both the ends

.[2]

Flower

Type Size Color and composition Stamen More information
bisexual 2.5 cm long bright yellow 5-20 The racemes are few-flowered, short, erect, crowded in axils of upper leaves so as to form a large terminal inflorescence stamens barren; the ovary is superior, unilocular, with marginal ovules.

Fruit

Type Size Mass Appearance Seeds More information
short legume 7.5–11 cm long, 1.5 cm broad clearly grooved lengthwise, Lowest hooked hairs aligned towards crown oblong, obtuse, tipped with long style base, flat, thin, papery, undulately crimpled, pilose, pale brown. 12-20 seeds {{{6}}}

Other features

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

Where to get the saplings

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, root Cuttings.

How to plant/cultivate

Requires a deep fertile moisture retentive humus-rich soil[3]

Commonly seen growing in areas

trophical, Woodland Garden Sunny Edge, Cultivated Beds.

Photo Gallery

References

External Links