Veratrum

Veratrum is a genus of coarse poisonous perennial herbs of the Melanthiaceae family. In English they are usually known as the False hellebores. Members of Veratrum are known both in western herbalism and traditional Chinese medicine as toxic herbs to be used with great caution. It is one of the medicinals {"Li lu") cited in Chinese herbal texts as incompatible with many other common herbs because of its potentiating effects.

Veratrum species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Setaceous Hebrew Character.

Birth defects in livestock grazing on Veratrum californicum (native to the western United States) led to the study of cyclopamine and jervine which are important in animal developmental biology including cancer treatment.

Selected species

 * Veratrum album
 * Veratrum californicum
 * Veratrum fimbriatum
 * Veratrum insolitum
 * Veratrum latifolium
 * Veratrum nigrum
 * Veratrum parviflorum
 * Veratrum tenuipetalum
 * Veratrum viride
 * Veratrum woodii