The Botanical Magazine/Volume 1/3

by William Curtis

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Helleborus hyemalis. Winter Hellebore, or Aconite.

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Class and Order.

Polyandria Polygynia^[1].

Generic Character.

Calyx 0. Petala 5 five plura. Nectaria bilabiata, tubulata. Capsulæ polyspermæ erectiusculæ.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

HELLEBORUS hyemalis flore folio infidente. Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 431. Sp. Pl. p. 783.

ACONITUM unifolium bulbosum. Bauh. Pin. 183.

The Winter's Wolfesbane. Park. Parad. p. 214.

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Grows wild in Lombardy, Italy, and Austria, affects mountainous situations, flowers with us in February, and hence is liable to be cut off by severe frosts. "Is propagated by offsets, which the roots send out in plenty. These roots may be taken up and transplanted any time after their leaves decay, which is generally by the beginning of June till October, when they will begin to put out new fibres; but as the roots are small and nearly the colour of the ground, so if care is not taken to search for them, many of the roots will be left in the ground. These roots should be planted in small clusters, otherwise they will not make a good appearance, for single flowers scattered about the borders of these small kinds are scarce seen at a distance; but when these and the Snowdrops are alternately planted in bunches, they will have a good effect, as they flower at the same time, and are much of a size." Miller's Gard. Dict.

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1. Most of the Hellebores vary greatly in the number of their pistils, which in general are too few to justify the placing those plants in the order Polygynia.

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