Veratrum L.

Vératre (fr)

Genus

Angiosperms > Liliales > Melanthiaceae

Characteristics

Herbs, perennial, from short, thick, vertical rhizomes and swollen basal bulbs; roots contractile, fleshy. Stems erect, simple, hollow, robust, basally thickened, leafy. Leaves alternate, simple, strongly veined, narrowly to broadly orbicular, often plicate, reduced upwards, narrowed into closed, tubular, often overlapping sheaths. Inflorescences compound-racemose or large terminal-paniculate, bracteate, pubescent. Flowers bisexual or some proximal ones staminate; perianth perigynous, rotate to ± campanulate, with hypanthium fused to base of ovary; tepals persistent, 6, spreading to erect, distinct to weakly connate basally, off-white, green, yellow, or purple, petaloid, not clawed, equal to subequal, margins entire or erose-fimbriate; glands 1–2, basal, on adaxial surface, V-shaped over midrib or marginal pair; stamens 6, perigynous; filaments distinct, filiform; anthers persistent, 1-locular with confluent thecae, cordate-reniform, dehiscence apical/valvate; ovary superior or partly inferior, 3-locular; styles 3, erect to divergent, distinct, short; stigmas elongate, extending down inner style surfaces. Fruits capsular, deeply 3-lobed, style beaks persistent, dehiscence septicidal. Seeds ellipsoid to fusiform, flat, broadly winged (± globose with wings reduced to basal ridges in V. fimbriatum). x = 8.
More
Herbs perennial, usually andropolygamous, with short, thick rhizomes and stout, slightly fleshy roots. Stems erect, terete, stout, usually pubescent, leafy, usually enclosed basally by fibers or reticulate fibers formed from disintegrated sheaths. Leaves alternate, sheathed and clasping, broad to narrow, strongly plicately veined, basally usually narrowed. Inflorescence usually a terminal panicle, many flowered. Flowers shortly pedicellate or subsessile, white, yellowish, green, or dark purple-brown, funnelform, cupular to opening flat. Tepals 6, usually free, spreading, persistent in fruit. Stamens 6, inserted at base of tepals; anthers reniform to cordate-orbicular, with locules confluent and dehiscent by an apical valve. Ovary 3-loculed, slightly 3-lobed apically, ovules usually many. Styles 3, short, persistent, stigmatic adaxially. Fruit a septicidal capsule. Seeds several per valve, flattened, narrowly winged.
Fls polygamous; tep 6, free from the ovary, narrowed at base, not glandular; stamens 6; filaments slender, free or adnate to the perianth at the very base; anthers extrorse, obcordate, with confluent thecae; ovary superior, 3-lobed, each lobe terminated by a short style; capsule ovoid, septicidal, subtended by the withered perianth; seeds large, flat, the small embryo surrounded by a broad wing; tall, coarse, poisonous herbs, perennial from a stout rhizome, with large broad lvs and a terminal panicle of green or purple fls. 30, N. Hemisphere.
Life form perennial
Growth form herb
Growth support -
Foliage retention -
Sexuality hermaphrodite
Pollination -
Spread -
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Root system rhizome
Rooting depth (meter) -
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Flower color
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Nitrogen fixer -
Photosynthetic pathway -

Environment

Light -
Soil humidity -
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Hardiness (USDA) 4-9

Usage

Uses medicinal
Edible -
Therapeutic use Insecticide (unspecified), Emetic (unspecified)
Human toxicity -
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

Mode -
Germination duration (days) 90 - 365
Germination temperacture (C°) 12 - 15
Germination luminosity -
Germination treatment -
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Optimum temperature (C°) -
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