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

Siskiyou false-hellebore, Siskiyou wild hellebore

Stems

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

1–1.5 m, grayish-hairy 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.

blades elliptic, distal lanceolate, 10–35 × 7–21 cm, reduced distally, grayish-hairy, at least when young.

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.

paniculate, with ascending branches, 20–50 cm, grayish-hairy;

bracts ovate to lanceolate, shorter than flowers.

Capsules

narrowly ovoid, 2–3 cm, glabrous.

oblong-ovoid, 2–3 cm, densely tomentose.

Seeds

flat, winged, 10–12 mm.

flat, broadly winged, 10–15 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.

creamy white to yellow, broadly ovate, not clawed, 6–15 mm, margins strongly erose-ciliate or inner shallowly fimbriate;

gland 1, basal, green, V-shaped, elliptic;

ovary densely tomentose;

pedicel 6–15 mm.

2n

= 32.

Veratrum californicum

Veratrum insolitum

Phenology Flowering summer–fall.
Habitat Stream banks, moist meadows, mixed-evergreen forest margins
Elevation 0–1500 m (0–4900 ft)
Distribution
from USDA
w North America
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA; OR; WA
[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.)

The only other whitish-flowered species in North America, Veratrum californicum, which might be confused with V. insolitum, has entire, unfringed tepals, and only slightly hairy ovaries.

(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. FNA vol. 26, p. 74.
Parent taxa Liliaceae > Veratrum Liliaceae > Veratrum
Sibling taxa
V. album, V. fimbriatum, V. insolitum, V. viride
V. album, V. californicum, V. fimbriatum, 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) Jepson: Fl. Calif. 1: 266. (1921)
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