hellebore

/ˌhɛləˈbɔər/

Other forms: hellebores

Definitions of hellebore

1. noun

   any plant of the Eurasian genus Helleborus
   types:

   Helleborus foetidus, bear's foot, setterwort, stinking hellebore

   digitate-leaved hellebore with an offensive odor and irritant qualities when taken internally

   Christmas rose, Helleborus niger, black hellebore, winter rose

   European evergreen plant with white or purplish rose-like winter-blooming flowers

   Helleborus orientalis, black hellebore, lenten rose

   slightly hairy perennial having deep green leathery leaves and flowers that are ultimately purplish-green

   Helleborus viridis, green hellebore

   deciduous plant with large deep green pedate leaves and nodding saucer-shaped green flowers

   type of:

   poisonous plant

   a plant that when touched or ingested in sufficient quantity can be harmful or fatal to an organism
2. noun

   perennial herbs of the lily family having thick toxic rhizomes
   synonyms: false hellebore

   types:

   American hellebore, Indian poke, Veratrum viride, bugbane, white hellebore

   North American plant having large leaves and yellowish green flowers growing in racemes; yields a toxic alkaloid used medicinally

   type of:

   liliaceous plant

   plant growing from a bulb or corm or rhizome or tuber