Hellebore[American actor]
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Helleboresee text Hellebores (the Genus ''Helleborus'' in the Family Ranunculaceae) are perennial flowering plants that are often grown in gardens for decorative purposes, as well as for their purported medicinal abilities and uses in witchcraft. They are particularly valued by gardeners for their winter and early spring flowering period; the plants are surprisingly frost-resistant and many are evergreen. Their natural range of the genus includes much of Europe, from western Britain (excluding Ireland), Spain and Portugal, eastward (via Majorca, Corsica, Sardinia and Greece) into Romania and the Ukraine, as well as along the north coast of Turkey into Russia. The greatest concentration of species occurs in the Balkans. One atypical species (''H. thibetanus'') comes from China; another atypical species (''H. vesicarius'') inhabits a small area on the border between Turkey and Syria.Several legends surround the hellebore; in witchcraft it is believed to have ties to summoning demons. ''Hellebor! us niger'' is commonly called the Christmas rose, due to an old legend that it sprouted in the snow from the tears of a young girl who had no gift to give the Christ child in Bethlehem. In Ancient Greece|Greek mythology, Melampus of Pylos used hellebore to save the daughters of the king of Argos from a Dionysus-induced madness that caused them to run naked through the city, crying, weeping, and screaming.The flowers have five 'petals' (actually tepals) surrounding a ring of small, cup-like nectaries (petals modified to hold nectar). Although the flowers of some species may resemble wild roses (and despite their common names), hellebores do not belong to the rose family (Rosaceae). Many species of hellebore have green or greenish-purple flowers and are of limited garden value, although Corsican hellebore (''H. argutifolius''), a robust plant with pale green, cup-shaped flowers and attractive leathery foliage, is widely grown. So is stinking hellebore or setterwort (''H. foet! idus''), which has drooping clusters of small, pale green, bel! l-shaped flowers, edged with maroon, which contrast delightfully with its dark evergreen foliage. ''H. foetidus'' 'Wester Flisk', with red-flushed flowers and flower stalks, is becoming popular, as are more recent selections with golden-yellow foliage. The Christmas rose (''H. niger''), a traditional cottage garden favourite, bears its pure white flowers (which often age to pink) in the depths of winter; large-flowered cultivars are available, as are pink-flowered and double selections.The most popular hellebores for garden use, however, are undoubtedly ''H. orientalis'' and its colourful hybrids (''H.'' x ''hybridus''). They flower in early spring, around the period of Lent, and are often known as Lenten roses, Lenten hellebores, or Oriental hellebores. They are excellent for bringing early colour to shady herbaceous borders and areas between deciduous shrubs and under trees. |
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| American actor Renewal 2005.11.04
Columbine / Trillium / Cosmos (flower) / Orchidaceae / Alstroemeria / Clematis / Erythronium / Yellow Pansy / Phlox / Pansy / Villarsia / Crown imperial (flower) / Yellow Jessamine / Wandflower / Crocus / Gerbera / Freesia / Hyacinth (flower) / Dog's Mercury / Douglas Iris
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