Veratrum n : a genus of coarse poisonous perennial herbs; sometimes placed in subfamily Melanthiaceae [syn: genus Veratrum]

Veratrum is a genus of coarse highly poisonous perennial herbs of the Melanthiaceae family. In English they are usually known as the False hellebores. Members of Veratrum are known both in western herbalism and traditional Chinese medicine as toxic herbs to be used with great caution. It is one of the medicinals