Helleborus viridis aka Green Hellebore

Helleborus viridis, commonly known as green hellebore, is a flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. Native to Central and Western Europe, including southern England, this semi-evergreen perennial grows up to 60 cm tall. It was first described by Linnaeus in 1753 and is characterized by its poisonous nature. The plant has two recognized subspecies: H. viridis subsp. viridis, found in Central Europe and the maritime Alps, and H. viridis subsp. occidentalis, found in western Europe and the British Isles. Other common names for this plant include bastard hellebore, bear's foot, and boar's foot. In late winter and early spring, green hellebore displays cup-shaped dark lime-green flowers that dangle from branched stems. The flowers have five large green oval sepals with pointed tips and seven to twelve smaller petals. Subspecies viridis has hairy leaves and larger flowers, while subspecies occidentalis has smooth leaves and smaller flowers. This plant typically grows on limestone and chalk-based soils in the southern part of England. Although green hellebore is known for its purgative properties and its traditional use in treating worms and lice, consumption of any part of the plant can lead to severe vomiting and seizures. It is important to note that the plant is invasive in North America, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and northern Germany. The evergreen leaves of green hellebore are divided, leathery, and dark green in color. This species blooms early in spring, making it one of the first plants to flower. Its toxic alkaloids make it poisonous to both humans and animals.