Contractions. - Helleb. Hel.

Helleborus niger. Nat. ord., Ranunculaceae.

Fig. - Flora Horn., pl. 35.

Black Hellebore, Christmas Rose. For. names: German, Schneerose, Schwarze Niesswurzel; French, Rose de Noel; Italian, Elleboro nero; Spanish, Helleboro negro.

Habitat. - Lower mountains of Central Europe. Cultivated as a flower in our gardens.

Flowering time. - December to March.

Part employed. - The fresh root.

Characters. - A black, rough, knotty rhizome, from which descend numerous root-fibres. Leaves palmate, on long footstalks springing directly from the root; leaflets 5 or more, ovate-lanceolate, smooth, shining, coriaceous, serrated. Scapes leafless, bearing 1 or 2 flowers.

Time for collecting. - Christmas, just before flowering.

Preparation. - Tincture, corresponding in alcoholic strength with proof spirit.

Reference to Horn. Proving. - R. A. M. L., iii.

Proper forms for dispensing. - φ and lx, Tincture only. 1 and upwards, Tincture, Pilules, or Globules.

Average loss of moisture, 60 per cent.