Veratrum album

English: White False Helleborine - European White Hellebore - White Veratrum
Nederlands: Witte nieswortel - Wit nieskruid
Español: Ballestera - Berdegambre - Baladre
Français: Vératre blanc - Hellébore blanc - Faux hellébore - Varaire
Deutsch: Weiße Germer - Nieswurz - Hemmerwurzn - Lauskraut - Lauswurz

Family: Liliaceas-Lily family
Flowering time: June - August
Height: 50-150cm
Altitude: 600 to 2700m
Colour: lime-green or yellow-white petals surround a light green centre
Leaves: ribbed, alternate, oval to elliptical, deep green, untoothed
Habitat: meadows, stream margins, damp clearings
Distribution: native of mountainous areas of Europe, from Lapland to Spain







Notes: Poisonous, medicinal plant with starry flowers that emanate a delicate perfume. The long woody stems have elongated ribbed leaves. Prior to flowering the plant can be confused with the Great Yellow Gentian. White False Helleborine contains a deadly toxin that was used in the preparation of poison-tipped spears.

Related key words: Pyrenees, Pyreneeën, Pirineos, Fajay de Pelay-Ordesa (Torla), Cerler-Ampriu (Benasque), Ibones de Anayet (Sallent de Gállego), Puerto del Pez (Gistaín), Picos de Europa, Alpine plant, central and southern Alps