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Webster 1913 Edition

Hellebore

Hel′le-bore

,
Noun.
[L.
helleborus
,
elleborus
, Gr. [GREEK], [GREEK]; cf. F.
hellébore
,
ellébore
.]
1.
(Bot.)
A genus of perennial herbs (
Helleborus
) of the Crowfoot family, mostly having powerfully cathartic and even poisonous qualities.
Helleborus niger
is the European black hellebore, or Christmas rose, blossoming in winter or earliest spring.
Helleborus officinalis
was the officinal hellebore of the ancients.
2.
(Bot.)
Any plant of several species of the poisonous liliaceous genus
Veratrum
, especially
Veratrum album
and
Veratrum viride
, both called
white hellebore
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Hellebore

HEL'LEBORE

,
Noun.
[L. helleborus.] The name of several plants of different genera, the most important of which are the black hellebore, Christmas rose, or Christmas flower, of the genus Helleborus, and the white hellebore, of the genus Veratrum. Both are acrid and poisonous,and are used in medicine as evacuants and alternatives.

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