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false-hellebore

Cascade false-hellebore, tailed false-hellebore

Stems

1–2.5m, glabrous proximally, tomentose distally.

Leaves

ovate, distally lanceolate to lance-linear, 20–40 × 15–25 cm, abaxially tomentose to ciliate or curly-haired, adaxially glabrous or with veins sparsely short-haired.

Inflorescences

dense panicles, 30–70 cm;

branches spreading to stiffly erect;

distal 33–50% unbranched, tomentose;

bracts ovate-elliptic to lanceolate; shorter than to much longer than flowers.

densely flowered panicles, unbranched on upper 33–50% portion;

bracts in proximal unbranched portion lanceolate, 2–3 times longer than flowers, 2– 3 cm.

Pedicel

1–6 mm.

Flowers

tepals lanceolate to elliptic or oblong-ovate, 8–17 mm; creamy white with a greenish base, not or very slightly clawed;

margins entire to minutely dentate, glabrous to abaxially tomentose;

gland 1, green; V-shaped;

basal;

ovary glabrous or minutely hairy.

12–17 mm;

tepals lanceolate.

Fruits

narrowly ovoid, 2–3 cm, glabrous.

Seeds

flat, 1–2 cm, winged.

2n

=32.

Veratrum californicum

Veratrum californicum var. caudatum

Distribution
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Western North America. 2 varieties.

Moist to wet marshy areas, meadows, and openings in conifer forests. Flowering Jun–Aug. 0–1900m. Casc, CR, ECas, Est, Sisk, WV. ID, WA. Native.

Source Flora of Oregon, volume 1, page 316
Tamra Prior
Flora of Oregon, volume 1, page 316
Tamra Prior
Sibling taxa
V. fimbriatum, V. insolitum, V. viride
V. californicum var. californicum
Subordinate taxa
V. californicum var. californicum, V. californicum var. caudatum
Synonyms Veratrum caudatum
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