Known As:  Black Hellebore, Christmase Rose, Easter Rose, Lenten Rose
Latin Name:  Helleborus Niger, Helleborus Orientalis
Description: Member of the Buttercup family.  Evergreen rhizomatous perennial up to 13.5 inches high growing in clumps.  Flowers from December through April with 2 or 3 large flowers.  New flower buds form February through May.  Has a stalk but no true leafy stem.  Leaves are basal, alternate, palmately clet with long petioles.  They consist of 7-9 dark green shiny leaflets.  They are tough, narrow and lance-shaped.  Flowers are few but large and are white suffused with pink  Petals are smal and tubular with numerous stamens.
Poisonous Parts:  Entire plant.  Contains Cardian glycosides (bufadienole hellebrin), Saponins, Ranunculosides.  Toxins are glycosides helleborin and helleborein.
Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea.  Violently emetic.  Affects cardiovascular system.  Can also cause dermatitis.
Treatment: Contact your veterinarian.   Treatment for cardiac glycoside poisoning: atropine and deactivated charcoal, lidocaine for H. viridis.