False
hellebore
Veratrum
Veratrum viride
Ait.
FAMILY: Liliaceae
DISTRIBUTION:
This plant grows in swamps, low wet places, meadows, pastures, and open woods.
DESCRIPTION:
Veratrum viride is a coarse, tall, unbranched herb, 3
to 6 feet, perennial from a short rhizome; leaves: large
(appearing pleated), alternate in 3-ranks, broad, the bases sheathing the stems;
panicle: terminal, composed of greenish-yellow to purple, hairy
flowers, about 1.5 cm across; tepals: 6, narrowed at base, not
glandular; stamens: 6, filaments free from the perianth; ovarv:
tri-lobed, each lobe terminating in a short style; fruit: an ovoid
capsule, surrounded by the withered perianth; seeds: large, flat, the
embryo small and surrounded by a broad wing. See Amianthium for
illustration.
TOXIC PARTS:
All parts are poisonous, especially the young, succulent growth in spring.
TOXICITY:
Species vary in physiologically active principles, yet symptoms of acute
poisoning are constant: salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains,
prostration, depressed heart action, general paralysis, spasms, and dyspnea.
Death may result. In addition, hallucinations, headache, and a burning sensation
of mouth and throat have been reported. A species of Veratrum from
western United States is known to cause congenital malformation in lambs,
including cyclopia (single median eye) and cranial and lower jaw abnormalities.
Ewe embryos in the primitive streak stage (12th and 14th day of gestation)
develop deformities; fetal pituitary may be absent, Postmortem: gross and
histological lesions: not reported in acute toxicity.
TOXIC PRINCIPLES:
The numerous known alkaloids exist as glyco - or ester alkaloids and
include jervine, pseudojervine, rubijervine, cevadine, germitrine, germidine,
veratralbine, and veratroidine. Plants also may contain cardiac glycosides.
TREATMENT: Gastric lavage, emesis ; Charcoal; Atropine; hypotensive drugs.