Helleborus orientalis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Helleborus orientalis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Ranunculaceae |
| Genus: | Helleborus |
| Species: | H. orientalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Helleborus orientalis | |
Helleborus orientalis, or the Lenten rose,[1] is a perennial flowering plant and species of hellebore in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, native to Greece and Turkey.[2]
This perennial reaches 28–45 cm (11–18 in) tall, with glossy green palmate leaves composed of 7–9 leaflets with serrated leaf margins. Leathery in texture, the leaves are evergreen. The cup-shaped pendent flowers appear in late winter and spring, arising in groups of 1–4 on the ends of thick stems rising above the foliage. They have yellow stamens.[3] All parts of the Lenten rose are poisonous.[3] Sap coming into contact with the skin may cause temporary irritation, while ingestion of large quantities can cause burning of mouth and throat, vomiting, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea.[4]
Taxonomy
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck described the species in 1789, giving it its current name of Helleborus orientalis ("Hellébore du Levant").[5] Within the genus Helleborus, it has been classified in the section Helleborastrum, and is closely related to the other eight species in the section.[6] These species are all highly variable and hybridise with each other freely.[7]
The Latin species name orientalis means "eastern".[8] The common name "Lenten" refers to the period of Lent.[9][10]
