Helleborus x hybridus Hort. Ex Vilmorin Ranunculaceae. A range of hybrids from Helleborus orientalis the Oriental hellebore. Distribution: Europe through to the Caucasus. All very poisonous. Culpeper (1650) says: “The roots (boiled in vinegar) ... be an admirable remedy against inveterate scabs, itch and leprosy, the same helps the toothache, being held in the mouth: dropped into the ears, helpeth deafness coming of melancholy and noises in the ears

corrected with a little cinnamon (as powder) it purgeth melancholy, resisteth madness.” The hellebores contain cardiac glycosides, that when eaten may cause the classical triad of coma, convulsions and death, but on the way causes vomiting and purging, and symptoms similar to those of digoxin poisoning with bradycardia and also bundle branch block, ventricular fibrillation and asystole. Used to be used to kill intestinal worms and presumably a dose just sufficient to kill the parasites was too small to kill the patient. It was used to kill lice but the sap causes dermatitis so, all in all, it is best avoided. Many other plants in the family Ranunculaceae, to which Helleborus belongs, contain numerous toxins. The name derives from the Greek, meaning ‘to injure + food’, and niger, meaning ‘black’ refers to the colour of the roots. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.