Commonly known as hellebores (), the
Eurasia
Eurasia (, ) is the largest continental area on Earth, comprising all of Europe and Asia. Primarily in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres, it spans from the British Isles and the Iberian Peninsula in the west to the Japanese archipelago a ...
n
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
''Helleborus'' consists of approximately 20
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
herbaceous
Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials.
Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous"
The fourth edition of t ...
or
evergreen
In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, which ...
perennial
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...
flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...
s in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Ranunculaceae
Ranunculaceae (buttercup or crowfoot family; Latin "little frog", from "frog") is a family of over 2,000 known species of flowering plants in 43 genera, distributed worldwide.
The largest genera are ''Ranunculus'' (600 species), ''Delphinium' ...
, within which it gave its name to the
tribe
The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide usage of the term in English language, English is in the discipline of anthropology. This definition is contested, in p ...
of Helleboreae. Despite names such as "winter rose",
"Christmas rose" and "Lenten rose", hellebores are not closely related to the rose family (
Rosaceae
Rosaceae (), the rose family, is a medium-sized family of flowering plants that includes 4,828 known species in 91 genera.
The name is derived from the type genus ''Rosa''. Among the most species-rich genera are ''Alchemilla'' (270), ''Sorbus ...
). Many hellebore species are poisonous.
Description
The flowers have five petal-like
sepal
A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...
s surrounding a ring of small, cup-like
nectaries
Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants in glands called nectaries or nectarines, either within the flowers with which it attracts pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to animal mutualists ...
which are actually
petal
Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...
s modified to hold
nectar
Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants in glands called nectaries or nectarines, either within the flowers with which it attracts pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to animal mutualists ...
. The sepals do not fall as petals would, but remain on the plant, sometimes for many months. Recent research in
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
suggests that the persistence of the sepals contributes to the development of the
seed
A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including the gymnosperm and angiospe ...
s.
Taxonomy
The genus was established by
Carl Linnaeus
Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the ...
in volume one of his ''
Species Plantarum
' (Latin for "The Species of Plants") is a book by Carl Linnaeus, originally published in 1753, which lists every species of plant known at the time, classified into genera. It is the first work to consistently apply binomial names and was the ...
'' in 1753.
The scientific name ''Helleborus'' could derive from the
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Dark Ages (), the Archaic peri ...
word (), the common name for ''
H. orientalis'', constructed from (, "to injure") and (), "food.". It is also possibly from Greek, ἄλκη “fawn”, βιβρώσκω (bibrṓskō, “to eat”).
Species and subspecies
Twenty-two species are recognised and divided into six sections.
The table below shows the species of the genus ''Helleborus'', give its common name, the area of distribution, an image if available and the meaning of the scientific name.
The cladogram shows the relationship between the different species determined with microbiological methods by Meiners et al. (2011).
Caulescent species
These four species have leaves on their flowering stems (in ''H. vesicarius'' the stems die back each year; it also has basal leaves).
* ''
Helleborus argutifolius
''Helleborus argutifolius'', the holly-leaved hellebore, or Corsican hellebore, syn. ''H. corsicus'', ''H. lividus'' subsp. ''corsicus'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to Corsica and Sardinia. It is an evergre ...
'' – Corsican hellebore
* ''
Helleborus foetidus
''Helleborus foetidus'', known variously as stinking hellebore , dungwort, setterwort and bear's foot, is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native to the mountainous regions of Central and Southern Europe and Asi ...
'' – stinking hellebore or setterwort
* ''
Helleborus lividus
''Helleborus lividus'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to Majorca and possibly nearby Cabrera, Spain. It is an evergreen perennial
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than ...
''
* ''
Helleborus vesicarius
Commonly known as hellebores (), the Eurasian genus ''Helleborus'' consists of approximately 20 species of herbaceous or evergreen perennial flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae, within which it gave its name to the tribe of Helleboreae. ...
''
Acaulescent (stemless) species
These species have basal leaves. They have no true leaves on their flower stalks (although there are leafy bracts where the flower stalks branch).
* ''
Helleborus atrorubens''
* ''
Helleborus croaticus''
* ''
Helleborus cyclophyllus''
* ''
Helleborus dumetorum''
* ''
Helleborus abruzzicus''
* ''
Helleborus liguricus
Commonly known as hellebores (), the Eurasian genus ''Helleborus'' consists of approximately 20 species of herbaceous or evergreen perennial flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae, within which it gave its name to the tribe of Helleboreae ...
''
* ''
Helleborus bocconei''
* ''
Helleborus multifidus''
** ''Helleborus multifidus'' subsp. ''hercegovinus''
** ''Helleborus multifidus'' subsp. ''istriacus''
** ''Helleborus multifidus'' subsp. ''multifidus''
* ''
Helleborus niger
''Helleborus niger'', commonly called Christmas rose or black hellebore, is an evergreen perennial flowering plant in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. It is poisonous.
Although the flowers resemble wild roses (and despite its common nam ...
'' – Christmas rose or black hellebore
** ''Helleborus niger'' subsp. ''macranthus'' (syn. ''
H. niger major'')
** ''Helleborus niger'' subsp. ''niger''
* ''
Helleborus odorus''
** ''Helleborus odorus'' subsp. ''laxus''
** ''Helleborus odorus'' subsp. ''odorus''
* ''
Helleborus orientalis
''Helleborus orientalis'', the Lenten rose, is a perennial flowering plant and species of hellebore in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, native to Greece and Turkey.
Description
This perennial reaches tall, with glossy green palmate leaves ...
'' – Lenten rose, Lenten hellebore, oriental hellebore (''N.B.'' most of the Lenten hellebores in gardens are now considered to be ''H.'' × ''hybridus'')
** ''Helleborus orientalis'' subsp. ''abchasicus'' (syn. ''
H. abchasicus'')
** ''Helleborus orientalis'' subsp. ''guttatus''
** ''Helleborus orientalis'' subsp. ''orientalis'' (syn. ''
H. caucasicus,
H. kochii'')
* ''
Helleborus purpurascens''
* ''
Helleborus thibetanus
''Helleborus thibetanus'', the Tibetan hellebore, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to China, in S Gansu, NW Hubei, S Shaanxi and NW Sichuan.
This rhizome, rhizomatous perennial plant, perennial has a clump of sm ...
''(syn''.
H. chinensis'')
* ''
Helleborus torquatus''
* ''
Helleborus viridis'' - green hellebore or bear's-foot
* ''
Helleborus occidentalis'' (formerly ''
H. viridis'' subsp. ''occidentalis'')
Other species names (now considered invalid) may be encountered in older literature, including ''H. hyemalis'', ''H. polychromus'', ''H. ranunculinus'', ''H. trifolius''.
Hellebore hybrids
Hybridising (deliberate and accidental) between ''H. orientalis'' and several other closely related species and subspecies has vastly improved the colour-range of the flowers, which now extends from slate grey, near-black, deep purple and plum, through rich red and pinks to yellow, white and green. The outer surface of the sepals is often green-tinged, and as the flower ages it usually becomes greener inside and out; individual flowers often remain on the plant for a month or more. The inner surface of each sepal may be marked with veins, or dotted or blotched with pink, red or purple. "
Picotee
Picotee describes flowers whose edge is a different colour than the flower's base colour. The word originates from the French ''picoté'', meaning 'marked with points'.The Oxford Dictionary of English, page 1331. Oxford University Press, 2005.
...
" flowers, whose pale-coloured sepals have narrow margins of a darker colour, are much sought-after, as are those with dark nectaries which contrast with the outer sepals.
Recent breeding programmes have also created double-flowered and anemone-centred plants. Ironically, doing this is actually reversing the
evolution
Evolution is change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. These characteristics are the expressions of genes, which are passed on from parent to offspring during reproduction. Variation ...
ary process in which hellebores' true petals had been modified into
nectar
Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants in glands called nectaries or nectarines, either within the flowers with which it attracts pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to animal mutualists ...
ies; it is usually these nectaries which become the extra petals in double, semi-double and anemone-centred flowers.
Double-flowered
"Double-flowered" describes varieties of flowers with extra petals, often containing flowers within flowers. The double-flowered trait is often noted alongside the scientific name with the abbreviation ''fl. pl.'' (''flore pleno'', a Latin ablati ...
hellebores provide a very interesting variation to the standard hellebore. They are generally easy to maintain and share the same planting conditions as the standard hellebore.
Semi-double flowers have one or two extra rows of petals; doubles have more. Their inner petals are generally very like the outer ones in colour and patterning. They are often of a similar length and shape, though they may be slightly shorter and narrower, and some are attractively waved or ruffled. By contrast, anemone-centred flowers have, cupped within the five normal outer petals, a ring of much shorter, more curved extra petals (sometimes trumpet-shaped, intermediate in appearance between petals and nectaries), which may be a different colour from the outer petals. These short, extra petals (sometimes known as "petaloids") drop off after the flower has been
pollinated
Pollination is the transfer of pollen from an anther of a plant to the stigma of a plant, later enabling fertilisation and the production of seeds, most often by an animal or by wind. Pollinating agents can be animals such as insects, birds, ...
, leaving an apparently single flower, whereas doubles and semi-doubles tend to retain their extra petals after pollination.
Interspecific hybrids
Gardeners and
nurserymen
A nursery is a place where plants are propagated and grown to a desired size. Mostly the plants concerned are for gardening, forestry or conservation biology, rather than agriculture. They include retail nurseries, which sell to the general ...
have also created hybrids between less closely related species. The earliest was probably ''H.'' × ''nigercors'', a cross between ''
H. niger'' and ''H. argutifolius'' (formerly ''H. lividus'' subsp. ''corsicus'' or ''H. corsicus'', hence the name) first made in 1931. ''H.'' × ''sternii'', a cross between ''H. argutifolius'' and ''H. lividus'', first exhibited in 1947, is named after the celebrated British
plantsman
A plantsman is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable gardener (amateur or professional), nurseryman or nurserywoman. "Plantsman" can refer to a male or female person, though the terms plantswoman, or even plantsperson, are sometimes used. The word is ...
Sir
Frederick Stern. ''H.'' × ''ballardiae'' (''H. niger'' crossed with ''H. lividus'') and ''H.'' × ''ericsmithii'' (''H. niger'' crossed with ''H.'' × ''sternii'') similarly commemorate the noted British nursery owners
Helen Ballard and Eric Smith. In recent years, Ashwood Nurseries (of
Kingswinford
Kingswinford is a town of the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley in the English West Midlands, situated west-southwest of central Dudley. In 2011 the area had a population of 25,191, down from 25,808 at the 2001 Census.
The current economic focus ...
in the
English Midlands
The Midlands (also referred to as Central England) are a part of England that broadly correspond to the Kingdom of Mercia of the Early Middle Ages, bordered by Wales, Northern England and Southern England. The Midlands were important in the Ind ...
), already well known for its Ashwood Garden Hybrids (''H.'' × ''hybridus'' singles, semi-doubles, doubles and anemone-centres), has created hybrids between ''H. niger'' and ''H. thibetanus'' (called ''H.'' 'Pink Ice'), and between ''H. niger'' and ''H. vesicarius'' (called ''H.'' 'Briar Rose'). The gardenworthiness of these hybrids has still to be proven.
The following hellebore species and cultivars have gained the
Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity.
The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nort ...
's
Award of Garden Merit
The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions.
History
The Award of Garden Merit ...
:
* ''H. argutifolius''
* ''H. foetidus''
* ''H. lividus''
* ''H. niger''
* ''H.'' × ''sternii'' 'Blackthorn Group'
Distribution
![Helleborus thibetanus](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Helleborus_thibetanus.jpg)
Various species of this genus originated in
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
and
Asia
Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...
. The greatest concentration of species occurs in the
Balkans
The Balkans ( ), also known as the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throughout the who ...
. One atypical species (''H. thibetanus'') comes from western
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
; another atypical species (''H. vesicarius'') inhabits a small area on the border between
Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...
and
Syria
Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...
.
Pests and diseases
Insects
''Phytomyza hellebori''
More commonly known as the Hellebore leaf miner, ''
Phytomyza hellebori
''Phytomyza hellebori'' is a species of Agromyzidae, leaf miner fly in the family Agromyzidae. The larvae can be found in Europe feeding on hellebore (''Helleborus'' species).
References
Phytomyza
Brachyceran flies of Europe
Insects des ...
'' is a small fly that infests only the ''
H. foetidus'' plants in the Hellebore family. The
leaf miner
A leaf miner is any one of numerous species of insects in which the larval stage lives in, and eats, the leaf tissue of plants. The vast majority of leaf-mining insects are moths (Lepidoptera), sawflies (Symphyta, the mother clade of wasps), ...
fly digs tunnels into the leaves of the ''H. foetidus.'' The tunnels create brownish-black blotches on the plant. These later turn into a nesting ground where the flies lay their eggs. With time, the leaves turn a brownish-white along where the tunnels were dug. The larvae start to eat the inside of the leaves in August, and damage develops from the late summer to the early spring, with heavy attacks leaving the foliage disfigured by spring.
To control heavy infestations, the leaves can be removed and destroyed during the winter months before the adult flies emerge. Insecticides can be used with limited effectiveness in controlling larvae and fly populations in the plant. Insecticides may harm non-leaf miner flies if applied during the hellebore's flowering period.
''Macrosiphum hellebori''
''
Macrosiphum hellebori'', commonly known as 'Hellebore aphid' or 'greenfly', is a sap-feeding
aphid
Aphids are small sap-sucking insects and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea. Common names include greenfly and blackfly, although individuals within a species can vary widely in color. The group includes the fluffy white woolly aphids. A t ...
that infests the flowers and foliage of hellebore plants. The whitish-green aphids are about long and form dense colonies on hellebores, coating them with a honeydew that can lead to the growth of sooty mold on the leaves and flowers of the hellebore. This species of aphid only affects hellebores and is most active in March and April when the hellebores are flowering and when few aphid predators are around, though they may infest during any time of the year.
Aphids start their feeding from the outside the flowers, beginning at the leaves and then moving towards the flower petals of the hellebore. As the hellebore beings to open, the aphids try to move into the flower. The aphids then feed on the inner parts of the plant as well as the young stems and shoots. As the population grows, the aphids eventually eat the remaining parts of the plant, such as older leaves, for food.
Aphid infestations can be controlled through persistent squashing of the aphids manually or by using insecticides. It is not recommended to spray flowering hellebores as it may harm the non-aphid pollinating insects.
Diseases
''Botrytis cinerea''
''
Botrytis cinerea
''Botrytis cinerea'' is a necrotrophic fungus that affects many plant species, although its most notable hosts may be wine grapes. In viticulture, it is commonly known as "botrytis bunch rot"; in horticulture, it is usually called "grey mould" or ...
'' or grey mold is a
fungal
A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from th ...
disease that infects most ornamental plants. The fungus causes a decay of plant tissues and grows fuzzy gray-brown mold over the decaying areas, such as the buds, leaves, and flowers. Parts of the plant may shrivel and die after exposure to the mold, particularly the flowers. Typically the fungus infects plants only through an open wound or when the plant is under stress, but it has also been known to infect plants in humid conditions. If the humidity is low, the mold may be contained to discrete spots on the plant, but the mold has been known to spread rapidly in highly humid conditions. Grey mold is not seasonally dependent and can infect a plant at any time of the year. The fungus forms black seed-like structures in the dead plant tissue to create its
spores
In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many plants, algae, f ...
to help it survive when new host plants are scarce. The spores are spread through the air to new plants.
To treat the infected plant, the first step is to remove infected and dying leaves, buds, and flowers immediately along with any other dead plant materials around the hellebore. The next step is to reduce the humidity around the plant by improving the ventilation and ensuring the plants are not overcrowded.
''Coniothyrium hellebori''
''
Coniothyrium hellebori'' is a fungus that causes the most common fungal disease for helleborus species known as Hellebore black spot or leaf spot. The disease is most common not only in botanical and ornamental gardens but also in hellebore nurseries as well. Visible symptoms include blackish-brown spots that often appear as rings on the leaf blade or at the margins of the leaf. The spots continue to grow larger as the disease progresses, retaining an elliptical or circular shape and turning a dark brown or black color. The spots grow until they infect the whole leaf.
Petioles and flowers can also be infected, but the disease is primarily seen in the leaves. The symptoms become visible in the spring and worsen with time.
The small black fruiting bodies which carry the spores,
pycnidia
A pycnidium (plural pycnidia) is an asexual fruiting body produced by mitosporic fungi, for instance in the order Sphaeropsidales ( Deuteromycota, Coelomycetes) or order Pleosporales (Ascomycota, Dothideomycetes). It is often spherical or inve ...
, are formed in the dead cells of the leaf spots. The spores are mainly spread by water, wind, and wind-blown rain. The fungus has an ideal habitat to spread and grow at the final growth site for hellebore plants, and if left untreated, the spores remain for many years. The most effective method against ''C. hellebori'' is to remove and destroy the infected leaves immediately to avoid reinfection the following spring.
Helleborus net necrosis virus
Helleborus net necrosis virus (HeNNV), also known as Hellebore black death, is an
RNA virus
An RNA virus is a virusother than a retrovirusthat has ribonucleic acid (RNA) as its genetic material. The nucleic acid is usually single-stranded RNA ( ssRNA) but it may be double-stranded (dsRNA). Notable human diseases caused by RNA viruses ...
that can cause serious disease in Hellebore plants by stunting or deforming the plant as it grows. The disease marks the leaves of the hellebores with black streaks, often following the veins of the leaf, and creating ring patterns. It can also mark the sepals and flowers with black spots or streaks but does not always do so. When symptoms are severe, new leaves have limited growth before dying off. The most seriously affected in the UK is ''H. orientalis'', but all hellebores are susceptible to the disease.
The most effective method of treatment against black death is to dig up and destroy all infected plants immediately. Many viruses are not transmitted through seeds, so it is possible to raise new disease resistant plants this way.
''Pseudomonas viridiflava''
''
Pseudomonas viridiflava'' is a bacterium that has been claimed to cause disease in hellebores in
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
, among other plants. The bacterial disease manifested on hellebore plants in the form of black leaf spots,
necrosis
Necrosis () is a form of cell injury which results in the premature death of cells in living tissue by autolysis. Necrosis is caused by factors external to the cell or tissue, such as infection, or trauma which result in the unregulated dige ...
petal, and stem lesions. The most popular ornamental and commercial crop grown in New Zealand is ''H. orientalis'' and its hybrids, of which 90 percent of the ''H. orientalis'' in the Tauranga nursery contracted the disease after several days of moderate rainfall. The disease caused discoloration in the form of black leaf spots that were circular and about 1.5–2 mm in diameter, black stem lesions, and dry, grey to brown lesions with distinct margins on the flower petals. The symptoms were different from other leaf-spotting hellebore diseases, such as those caused by the fungus ''
Coniothyrium'' and the bacteria ''
Xanthomonas
''Xanthomonas'' (from greek: ''xanthos'' – “yellow”; ''monas'' – “entity”) is a genus of bacteria, many of which cause plant diseases. There are at least 27 plant associated ''Xanthomonas spp.'', that all together infect at least 400 ...
''
The case in New Zealand is the only reported case of ''P. viridiflava'' infecting hellebores so far, but in other plants ''P. viridiflava'' has been reported to also induce symptoms such as leaf rot, leaf blotch, stem
necrosis
Necrosis () is a form of cell injury which results in the premature death of cells in living tissue by autolysis. Necrosis is caused by factors external to the cell or tissue, such as infection, or trauma which result in the unregulated dige ...
and blossom blight.
Horticulture
Hellebores are widely grown in
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the United States federal executive departments, federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, ...
hardiness zone
A hardiness zone is a geographic area defined as having a certain average annual minimum temperature, a factor relevant to the survival of many plants. In some systems other statistics are included in the calculations. The original and most wide ...
s 5a to 8b gardens for decorative purposes. They are particularly valued by gardeners for their winter and early spring flowering period; the plants are surprisingly
frost
Frost is a thin layer of ice on a solid surface, which forms from water vapor in an above-freezing atmosphere coming in contact with a solid surface whose temperature is below freezing, and resulting in a phase change from water vapor (a gas) ...
-resistant and many are
evergreen
In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, which ...
. Also of value is their shade tolerance.
Many species of hellebore have green or greenish-purple flowers and are of limited garden value, although Corsican hellebore (''
H. argutifolius''), a robust plant with pale green, cup-shaped flowers and attractive leathery
foliage
A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, ste ...
, is widely grown. So is the 'stinking hellebore' or setterwort (''H. foetidus''), which has drooping clusters of small, pale green, bell-shaped flowers, often edged with maroon, which contrasts with its dark evergreen foliage. ''H. foetidus'' 'Wester Flisk', with red-flushed flowers and flower stalks, is becoming popular, as are more recent selections with golden-yellow foliage.
The so-called Christmas rose (''H. niger''), a traditional
cottage garden
The cottage garden is a distinct style that uses informal design, traditional materials, dense plantings, and a mixture of ornamental and edible plants. English in origin, it depends on grace and charm rather than grandeur and formal structure. Ho ...
favourite, bears its pure white flowers (which often age to pink) in the depths of winter; large-flowered
cultivar
A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture, ...
s are available, as are pink-flowered and
double-flowered
"Double-flowered" describes varieties of flowers with extra petals, often containing flowers within flowers. The double-flowered trait is often noted alongside the scientific name with the abbreviation ''fl. pl.'' (''flore pleno'', a Latin ablati ...
selections.
The most popular hellebores for garden use are ''H. orientalis'' and its colourful hybrids, ''H.'' × ''hybridus'' (Lenten rose).. In the northern hemisphere, they flower in early spring, around the period of
Lent
Lent ( la, Quadragesima, 'Fortieth') is a solemn religious observance in the liturgical calendar commemorating the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert and enduring temptation by Satan, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke ...
, and are often known as Lenten hellebores, oriental hellebores, or Lenten roses. They are excellent for bringing early colour to shady
herbaceous border
A herbaceous border is a collection of perennial herbaceous plants (plants that live for more than two years and are soft-stemmed and non-woody) arranged closely together, usually to create a dramatic effect through colour, shape or large scale. ...
s and areas between
deciduous
In the fields of horticulture and Botany, the term ''deciduous'' () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, aft ...
shrub
A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...
s and under trees.
The cultivar ='Walhero' (sometimes listed under ''H.'' × ''hybridus'') has won the
Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity.
The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nort ...
's
Award of Garden Merit
The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions.
History
The Award of Garden Merit ...
.
Toxicity
All helleborus plants are toxic, and all parts of the helleborus plant are toxic.
Hellebore poisoning is rare, but it does occur.
Hellebore plants are usually left alone by animals such as deer and rabbits due to the fact that the leaves of the plant produce poisonous
alkaloids
Alkaloids are a class of basic, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Some synthetic compounds of similar st ...
, making them distasteful to animals. The poisonous alkaloids have been known to sometimes bother gardeners with sensitive skin. It was used in the
First Sacred War
The First Sacred War, or Cirraean War, was fought between the Amphictyonic League of Delphi and the city of Kirrha. At the beginning of the 6th century BC the Pylaeo-Delphic Amphictyony, controlled by the Thessalians, attempted to take hold of the ...
at the start of the sixth century BC to poison the water supply of the city of Kirrha.
Poisonings occur through ingestion or handling. Hellebore plants should not be ingested as poisoning cases are most severe when the plants are eaten. This is especially true when hellebores are eaten in large quantities.
Symptoms of ingestion include: burning of the mouth and throat, salivation, vomiting, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, nervous symptoms, and possibly depression. Consuming large quantities of hellebore plants can be fatal.
Toxic
cardiac glycoside
Cardiac glycosides are a class of organic compounds that increase the output force of the heart and decrease its rate of contractions by inhibiting the cellular sodium-potassium ATPase pump. Their beneficial medical uses are as treatments for co ...
s occur in the roots. High levels of
ranunculin
Ranunculin is an unstable glucoside found in plants of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). On maceration, for example when the plant is wounded, it is enzymatically broken down into glucose and the toxin protoanemonin
Protoanemonin (sometimes ...
and
protoanemonin
Protoanemonin (sometimes called anemonol or ranunculol) is a toxin found in all plants of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). When the plant is wounded or macerated, the unstable glucoside found in the plant, ranunculin, is enzymatically bro ...
, especially in the leaves and sap, also contribute to symptoms after ingestion.
Dermatitis
Dermatitis is inflammation of the skin, typically characterized by itchiness, redness and a rash. In cases of short duration, there may be small blisters, while in long-term cases the skin may become thickened. The area of skin involved can v ...
may also occur from handling the hellebore plants without protection. This is typically caused by the
ranunculin
Ranunculin is an unstable glucoside found in plants of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). On maceration, for example when the plant is wounded, it is enzymatically broken down into glucose and the toxin protoanemonin
Protoanemonin (sometimes ...
and
protoanemonin
Protoanemonin (sometimes called anemonol or ranunculol) is a toxin found in all plants of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). When the plant is wounded or macerated, the unstable glucoside found in the plant, ranunculin, is enzymatically bro ...
found on the outside of the plant, including the leaves, stem, flower, and sap. The poison on the outside of the plant causes irritation and burning sensations on the skin.
When collecting seeds from hellebore plants, it is recommended to wait for the pods to dry and shake them out into a container or onto the ground to collect. Attempts to remove the seeds by hand exposes skin to the potent toxins in the sap of the hellebore, which can increase the damage done to the skin. Small or minimal exposure to the toxins should only cause a mild irritation to the skin, and the affliction should only last for a few minutes. If the burning persists or intensifies, it is recommended to wash the affected areas thoroughly to remove the toxins and see a doctor.
The species historically known as "Black hellebore" cause
tinnitus
Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no corresponding external sound is present. Nearly everyone experiences a faint "normal tinnitus" in a completely quiet room; but it is of concern only if it is bothersome, interferes with normal hearin ...
,
vertigo
Vertigo is a condition where a person has the sensation of movement or of surrounding objects moving when they are not. Often it feels like a spinning or swaying movement. This may be associated with nausea, vomiting, sweating, or difficulties w ...
, stupor, thirst,
anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a serious, potentially fatal allergic reaction and medical emergency that is rapid in onset and requires immediate medical attention regardless of use of emergency medication on site. It typically causes more than one of the follow ...
,
emesis
Vomiting (also known as emesis and throwing up) is the involuntary, forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose.
Vomiting can be the result of ailments like food poisoning, gastroenteritis ...
(vomiting),
catharsis
Catharsis (from Greek , , meaning "purification" or "cleansing" or "clarification") is the purification and purgation of emotions through dramatic art, or it may be any extreme emotional state that results in renewal and restoration. In its lite ...
,
bradycardia
Bradycardia (also sinus bradycardia) is a slow resting heart rate, commonly under 60 beats per minute (BPM) as determined by an electrocardiogram. It is considered to be a normal heart rate during sleep, in young and healthy or elderly adults, a ...
(slowing of the
heart rate
Heart rate (or pulse rate) is the frequency of the heartbeat measured by the number of contractions (beats) of the heart per minute (bpm). The heart rate can vary according to the body's physical needs, including the need to absorb oxygen and excr ...
), and finally, collapse and death from
cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. It is a medical emergency that, without immediate medical intervention, will result in sudden cardiac death within minutes. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and possib ...
.
Although ''Helleborus niger'' (black hellebore) contains
protoanemonin
Protoanemonin (sometimes called anemonol or ranunculol) is a toxin found in all plants of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). When the plant is wounded or macerated, the unstable glucoside found in the plant, ranunculin, is enzymatically bro ...
or
ranunculin
Ranunculin is an unstable glucoside found in plants of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). On maceration, for example when the plant is wounded, it is enzymatically broken down into glucose and the toxin protoanemonin
Protoanemonin (sometimes ...
,
[Smolinske, Susan C., ''Toxicity of Houseplants'', pp38, 153](_blank)
at Google Book Search, accessed 12 January 2009 which has an acrid taste and can cause burning of the eyes, mouth, and throat, oral ulceration,
gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis, also known as infectious diarrhea and gastro, is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract including the stomach and intestine. Symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Fever, lack of energy, and dehydra ...
, and
hematemesis
Hematemesis is the vomiting of blood. It is always an important sign. It can be confused with hemoptysis (coughing up blood) or epistaxis (nosebleed), which are more common. The source is generally the upper gastrointestinal tract, typically abo ...
, research in the 1970s showed that the roots of ''H. niger'' do not contain the cardiotoxic compounds helleborin, hellebrin, and helleborein that are responsible for the lethal reputation of "black hellebore". It seems that earlier studies may have used a commercial preparation containing a mixture of material from other species such as ''
Helleborus viridis'', green hellebore.
Uses
In the early days of medicine, two kinds of hellebore were recognized: black hellebore, which included various species of ''Helleborus'', and white hellebore, now known as ''
Veratrum album
''Veratrum album'', the false helleborine, white hellebore, European white hellebore, or white veratrum ( syn. ''Veratrum lobelianum'' Bernh.) is a poisonous plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is native to Europe and parts of western Asia (west ...
'',
which belongs to a different plant family, the
Melanthiaceae
Melanthiaceae, also called the bunchflower family, is a family of flowering herbaceous perennial plants native to the Northern Hemisphere. Along with many other lilioid monocots, early authors considered members of this family to belong to the ...
. Although the latter plant is highly toxic, containing
veratrine
Veratridine is a steroidal alkaloid found in plants of the lily family, specifically the genera ''Veratrum'' and ''Schoenocaulon''. Upon absorption through the skin or mucous membranes, it acts as a neurotoxin by binding to and preventing the ina ...
and the
teratogens
cyclopamine
Cyclopamine (11-deoxojervine) is a naturally occurring chemical that belongs in the family of steroidal alkaloids. It is a teratogen isolated from the corn lily (''Veratrum californicum'') that causes fatal birth defects. It prevents the embryon ...
(which can cause the fatal birth defect of
cyclopia
Cyclopia (named after the Greek mythology character cyclopes) is the most extreme form of holoprosencephaly and is a congenital disorder (birth defect) characterized by the failure of the embryonic prosencephalon to properly divide the orbits of ...
) and
jervine
Jervine is a steroidal alkaloid with molecular formula C27H39NO3 which is derived from the plant genus ''Veratrum''. Similar to cyclopamine, which also occurs in the genus ''Veratrum'', it is a teratogen implicated in birth defects when consumed ...
, it is believed to be the "hellebore" used by
Hippocrates
Hippocrates of Kos (; grc-gre, Ἱπποκράτης ὁ Κῷος, Hippokrátēs ho Kôios; ), also known as Hippocrates II, was a Greek physician of the classical period who is considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of ...
as a purgative.
Despite its toxicity, "black hellebore" was used by the Greek and Romans to treat paralysis, gout and other diseases, more particularly insanity.
Culture
''H. niger'' is commonly called the
Christmas
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus, Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by country, around t ...
rose, due to an old legend that it sprouted in the snow from the tears of a young girl who had no gift to give the
Christ Child
The Christ Child, also known as Divine Infant, Baby Jesus, Infant Jesus, the Divine Child, Child Jesus, the Holy Child, Santo Niño, and to some as Señor Noemi refers to Jesus Christ from his nativity to age 12.
The four canonical gospels, a ...
in
Bethlehem
Bethlehem (; ar, بيت لحم ; he, בֵּית לֶחֶם '' '') is a city in the central West Bank, Palestine, about south of Jerusalem. Its population is approximately 25,000,Amara, 1999p. 18.Brynen, 2000p. 202. and it is the capital o ...
.
In
Greek mythology
A major branch of classical mythology, Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the Ancient Greece, ancient Greeks, and a genre of Ancient Greek folklore. These stories concern the Cosmogony, origin and Cosmology#Metaphysical co ...
,
Melampus
In Greek mythology, Melampus (; grc, Μελάμπους, ''Melampous'') was a legendary soothsayer and healer, originally of Pylos, who ruled at Argos. He was the introducer of the worship of Dionysus, according to Herodotus, who asserted th ...
of
Pylos
Pylos (, ; el, Πύλος), historically also known as Navarino, is a town and a former municipality in Messenia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it has been part of the municipality Pylos-Nestoras, of which it is th ...
used hellebore to save the daughters of the king of
Argos
Argos most often refers to:
* Argos, Peloponnese, a city in Argolis, Greece
** Ancient Argos, the ancient city
* Argos (retailer), a catalogue retailer operating in the United Kingdom and Ireland
Argos or ARGOS may also refer to:
Businesses
...
from a madness, induced by
Dionysus
In ancient Greek religion and myth, Dionysus (; grc, Διόνυσος ) is the god of the grape-harvest, winemaking, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, festivity, and theatre. The Romans ...
, that caused them to run naked through the city, crying, weeping, and screaming.
During the
Siege of Kirrha in 585 BC, hellebore was reportedly used by the Greek besiegers to poison the city's water supply. The defenders were subsequently so weakened by diarrhea that they were unable to defend the city from assault.
In a fit of madness induced by Hera,
Heracles
Heracles ( ; grc-gre, Ἡρακλῆς, , glory/fame of Hera), born Alcaeus (, ''Alkaios'') or Alcides (, ''Alkeidēs''), was a divine hero in Greek mythology, the son of Zeus and Alcmene, and the foster son of Amphitryon.By his adoptive ...
killed his children by Megara. His madness was cured using hellebore.
Gallery
Species
Helleborus bocconei 2.jpg, '' Helleborus bocconei''
Helleborus dumetorum (Hecken-Nieswurz) IMG 34924.JPG, '' H. dumetorum'' (Hecken-Nieswurz)
Helleborus lividus ssp. corsicus (Jardin des Plantes de Paris).jpg, ''Helleborus lividus
''Helleborus lividus'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to Majorca and possibly nearby Cabrera, Spain. It is an evergreen perennial
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than ...
'' ssp. ''corsicus'' ('' Jardin des Plantes de Paris'')
Helleborus foetidus 004.JPG, '' H. foetidus''
Helleborus odorus (Ranunculaceae) plant.jpg, '' H. odorus''
Helleborus purpurascens.jpg, '' H. purpurascens''
Helleborus argutifolius - Innsbruck Botanical Garden.jpg, ''Helleborus argutifolius
''Helleborus argutifolius'', the holly-leaved hellebore, or Corsican hellebore, syn. ''H. corsicus'', ''H. lividus'' subsp. ''corsicus'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to Corsica and Sardinia. It is an evergre ...
'' - Innsbruck Botanical Garden
Helleborus_(three_stages).jpg, '' H. niger'' with fruits and flowers in two different stages
Hybrids
Double hellebore, dark red.JPG, Double hellebore, dark red
Double white and pink picotee hellebore.JPG, Double white and pink picotee hellebore
Double pink hellebore with dark blotching.JPG, Double pink hellebore with dark blotching
Double white hellebore with pink spotting.JPG, Double white hellebore with pink spotting
Double pink hellebore with darker pink veining.JPG, Double pink hellebore with darker pink veining
Double white hellebore hybrid 'Betty Ranicar'.JPG, Double white hellebore hybrid 'Betty Ranicar'
Yellow double hellebore.JPG, Yellow double hellebore
"Blue-black" double hellebore.JPG, "Blue-black" double hellebore
Double pink hellebore with dark venation.JPG, Double pink hellebore with dark venation
Helleborus orientalis, Zaaddozen zwellen, Locatie, Tuinreservaat Jonkervallei 01.jpg, Seed pods swell
See also
*
Christmas flowers Christmas flowers are the popular flowers used during the festive season of Christmas. In many nations, seasonal flowers and plants such as Poinsettia, Christmas cactus, holly, Christmas rose, ivy and mistletoe form a major part of traditional Chr ...
* ''
Veratrum
''Veratrum'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Melanthiaceae. It occurs in damp habitats across much of temperate and subarctic Europe, Asia, and North America.
''Veratrum'' species are vigorous herbaceous perennials with highly poiso ...
''
References
*
* Orphan reference: Graham Rice & Elizabeth Strangman, ''The Gardener's Guide to Growing Hellebores'', David & Charles/Timber Press (1993)
* Orphan reference: Brian Mathew, ''Hellebores'', Alpine Garden Society (1989)
External links
*
*
A French hellebore enthusiast's non-commercial siteThe National Collection of Hellebore species and hybrids, Hazles Cross Farm Nursery (Staffordshire, UK) contains all known species plus hundreds of garden hybridsFlora Europaea: ''Helleborus''Hellebores.org: A comprehensive online resource on the genus ''Helleborus''
National collection of HelleboresRHS plant pathology report on 'Hellebore Black Death' disease (pdf)Growing Guide
{{Taxonbar, from=Q147289
Christmas plants
Garden plants
Ranunculaceae genera
Abortifacients