HELLEBORUS NIGER L. – Black Hellebore

Syn.: Helleborus grandiflorus Salisb.
Family: Ranunculaceae Juss.

Distribution: Mountains of Southern and Southern part of Middle Europe – Eastern Alps, Apennines, Dinarides.
Habitat: It grows on rocky slopes and shrubby hillsides, in woodlands and woodland margins, on limestone soils.
Description: A perennial herb with a short rhizome and erect stem, 15–30 cm high. The leaves are large, petiolate, pedate, leaflets 5 or more, cuneate-obovate, with coarsely serrated margin. The stem 1–2(–3)-flowered, the flowers are large, white, 5–8 cm in diameter, flowers from January (December) to March. The fruit is a capsule.
Threat and Protection: The Black Hellebore is a protected plant in Austria and Germany.
Note: This species (sometimes called the Christmas Rose) is often cultivated in the gardens. This plant is poisonous, it was used medicinally in former times.



These images were taken in Czechia, Brno and in Austria, in the vicinity of Mixnitz (from 13. 1. to 22. 5. 2004).