Veratrum californicum
Veratrum fimbriatum
California corn lily, California false hellebore, Californian false hellebore, false-hellebore
fringe cornlily, fringe false-hellebore
1–2.5 m, ± glabrous proximally, tomentose distally.
1–2 m, densely tomentose distally.
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.
elliptic-lanceolate, reduced distally, 20–50 × 10–25 cm, glabrous or sparsely hairy.
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.
paniculate, with spreading to ascending branches, 30–50 cm, densely tomentose;
bracts ovate to ovate-lanceolate, shorter than flowers.
narrowly ovoid, 2–3 cm, glabrous.
oblong-ovoid, 8–10 mm, glabrous.
flat, winged, 10–12 mm.
± globose, wingless, 5–7 mm.
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.
white, rhomboid-ovate to ovate, not clawed, 6–9 mm, margins ± deeply and irregularly fimbriate;
glands 2, basal, ± mid tepal, yellow, elliptic;
ovary glabrous;
pedicel 6–12 mm.
= 32.
Veratrum californicum
Veratrum fimbriatum
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.)
This showy Veratrum species differs from others in its fragrant flowers with deeply fringed tepals, wingless seeds, and auxiliary bulbs in the lower leaf sheaths, and is restricted as a paleo-endemic to a 96-km coastal stretch of Sonoma and Mendocino counties (C. A. Taylor 1956, 1956b).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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 |
OR
WA
Flora NW
PNW Herbaria
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
CA
