Helleborus viridis
Bear's-foot
Ranunculaceae
In woodland it flowers from February to May but in built up
areas it starts to flower in January.
Both native and naturalised plants are found throughout
the country, but are more common in the South.
See the BSBI distribution map for Green Hellebore
It grows in woods and hedges on lime and in shade.
It has been planted for winter flowering for hundreds
of years and in the wild it is a mixture of native and
naturalised plants.
Green Hellebore is a native, perennial, herb growing
to 40cm.
The clusters of yellow-green flowers (4-5cm in
diameter) appear just before the leaves.
The flowers are monoecious, half drooping but
flatter and more open than in Stinking Hellebore.
Male flowers have 5 ovoid, petaloid yellow-green
sepals and 9 dark green tubular nectaries instead
of petals.
The numerous stamens have cream-yellow anthers
and filaments.
Female flowers have 5 sepals and 3 large carpels,
styles and stigmas.
The palmate, toothed leaves are stalked dark green
and tough.
Fruits are large follicles.
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Next page: Groundsel
Green Hellebore, grass bank West Dorset
Drooping, saucer-shaped flowers
Corolla: 5 sepals, nectaries, stamens
Side view: stamens and anthers
3 carpels, styles and stigmas
Curved dark green nectaries
Close-up of nectary tubes
Fruits - follicles
Stalked leaves
Toothed leaves
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