Known As:  Hellebore, Christmas Rose
Latin Name: Helleborus family
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.  Petals are smal and tubular with numerous stamens. Pictured is Helleborus Orientalis.
Poisonous Parts: Entire plant, especially sap.  Contains Cardian glycosides (bufadienole hellebrin), Saponins, Ranunculosides.  Also contains the toxin protoanemonin.
Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea.  Violently emetic.  Can also affect the nervous system and cause dermatitis.
Treatment: Contact your veterinarian. Treatment for cardiac glycoside poisoning: atropine and activated charcoal, lidocaine for H. viridis.