Nat. ord., Ranunculaceae.

Stinking Hellebore, Bear's Foot.

Characters. - A perennial herb with palmately divided leaves. Lower leaves not all radical, but mostly raised on the short perennial base of the stems, forming a large and thick tuft. Flower-stem above 1 foot high, with a large, close panicle of drooping flowers, of a pale green, often tinged with purple, the concave sepals giving them a globular form. Petals small and tubular. Bracts at the ramifications of the panicle ovate and entire, or shortly 2-lobed at the summit.

A notice of the poisonous effects of this plant is given in B. J. H., ix.

Part employed. - The fresh root.

Preparation. - Tincture.