Veratrum californicum |
Veratrum californicum var. caudatum |
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California corn lily, California false hellebore, Californian false hellebore, false-hellebore |
Cascade false-hellebore, skunk cabbage, tail false-hellebore, tail wild hellebore |
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Stems | 1–2.5 m, ± glabrous proximally, tomentose distally. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Capsules | narrowly ovoid, 2–3 cm, glabrous. |
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Seeds | flat, winged, 10–12 mm. |
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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. |
lanceolate, 12–17 mm. |
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Panicle | unbranched in distal 1/3–1/2, densely flowered; bracts in proximal unbranched portion lanceolate, 2–3 times longer than flowers, 2–3 cm. |
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Veratrum californicum |
Veratrum californicum var. caudatum |
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Phenology | Flowering summer–early fall. | |||||
Habitat | Moist to wet marshy meadows and coniferous forest openings | |||||
Elevation | 0–1000 m (0–3300 ft) | |||||
Distribution |
w North America
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CA; ID; OR; WA |
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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.) |
Veratrum californicum var. caudatum occurs mostly west of the Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
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Key |
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Source | FNA vol. 26, p. 75. | FNA vol. 26. | ||||
Parent taxa | Liliaceae > Veratrum | Liliaceae > Veratrum > Veratrum californicum | ||||
Sibling taxa | ||||||
Subordinate taxa | ||||||
Synonyms | V. caudatum | |||||
Name authority | Durand: J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, ser. 2, 3: 103. (1855) | (A. Heller) C. L. Hitchcock: in C. L. Hitchcock et al., Vasc. Pl. Pacif. N.W. 1: 809. (1969) | ||||
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