UW Burke Herbarium species comparison

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Veratrum californicum

Veratrum californicum var. californicum

California false hellebore

skunk cabbage, California wild hellebore
Habit Tall perennial herbs from thick rhizomes, the simple stem glabrous below, 1.5-2 m. tall.
Leaves

Leaves numerous, alternate, cauline, ovate to broadly elliptic, 2-3 dm. long and over as broad, strongly sheathing at base, reduced upward.

Flowers

Inflorescence a dense panicle, 3-6 dm. long, stiffly erect, the lower branches not drooping;

pedicels 1-3 mm. long;

perianth off-white to greenish tinged, saucer-shaped;

tepals 6, distinct, lanceolate to elliptic, broadly clawed at base, 10-17 mm. long, nearly entire and glabrous;

stamens 6, about as long as the tepals.

Fruits

Capsule 2-3 cm. long, glabrous, narrowly ovoid, tipped with the persistent styles.

Veratrum californicum

Veratrum californicum var. californicum
Flowering time June-August
Habitat Moist meadows and woodlands, lowlands to subalpine.
Distribution
Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington south to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
[BONAP county map]
Origin Native Native
Conservation status Not of concern Not of concern
Sibling taxa
V. insolitum, V. viride
V. californicum var. caudatum
Subordinate taxa
V. californicum var. californicum, V. californicum var. caudatum
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the University of Washington's Burke Herbarium.



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