Flora of North America species comparison

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Veratrum californicum

California corn lily, California false hellebore, Californian false hellebore, false-hellebore
Stems

1–2.5 m, ± glabrous proximally, tomentose distally.
Leaves

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

dense-paniculate, with spreading to stiffly erect branches to near tip or distal 1/3–1/2 unbranched, 30–70 cm, tomentose;

bracts ovate-elliptic to lanceolate, shorter than to obviously longer than flowers.
Capsules

narrowly ovoid, 2–3 cm, glabrous.
Seeds

flat, winged, 10–12 mm.
Tepals

creamy white, greenish basally, lanceolate to elliptic or oblong-ovate, not or very slightly clawed, 8–17 mm, margins entire to denticulate, glabrous to abaxially tomentose;

gland 1, basal, green, V-shaped;

ovary glabrous or with few hairs;

pedicel 1–6 mm.

Veratrum californicum
Distribution
from USDA
w North America
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Different geographic elements of Veratrum californicum have been described as separate species or varieties. The variation seems to be clinal, with most variants not consistent in their appearance or distribution. We have recognized two varieties that appear to be fairly consistent in their distributions and characteristics.

Western Native Americans (Blackfeet, Paiute, Shoshone, Thompson, and Washoe) used this species as an antirheumatic, poison, contraceptive, and emetic, as well as a skin, respiratory, blood, cold, snake bite, throat, and toothache aid (D. E. Moerman 1986).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Key
1. Panicle branched more than 2/3 length of tip; bracts in unbranched portion ovate-elliptic, seldom exceeding flowers.
var. californicum
1. Panicle unbranched in distal 1/3–1/2; bracts in proximal unbranched portion lanceolate, frequently 2–3 times longer than flowers.
var. caudatum
Source FNA vol. 26, p. 75.
Parent taxa Liliaceae > Veratrum
Sibling taxa
V. album, V. fimbriatum, V. insolitum, V. viride
Subordinate taxa
V. californicum var. californicum, V. californicum var. caudatum
Name authority Durand: J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, ser. 2, 3: 103. (1855)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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