Veratrum viride, known as Indian poke, corn-lily, Indian hellebore, false hellebore, green false hellebore, or giant false-helleborine, is a species of Veratrum native to eastern and western (but not central) North America. It is extremely toxic, and is considered a pest plant by farmers with livestock. The species has acquired a large number of other common names within its native range, including American false hellebore, American white hellebore, bear corn, big hellebore, corn lily, devil's bite, duck retten, itchweed, poor Annie, blue hellebore and tickleweed. Description V. viride is a herbaceous perennial plant reaching tall, with a solid green stem. The leaves are spirally arranged, long and broad, elliptic to broad lanceolate ending in a short point, heavily ribbed and hairy on the underside. The flowers are numerous, produced in a large branched inflorescence tall; each flower is long, with six green to yellow-green tepals. The fruit is a capsule long, which splits into three sections at maturity to release the numerous flat diameter seeds. The plant reproduces through rhizome growth as well as seeds. Varieties and similar species There are two recognized varieties of V. viride: Veratrum viride var. viride is found in eastern North America. It is differentiated by the erect or spreading side branches of the inflorescence. Veratrum viride var. eschscholzianum is found in western North America. It is differentiated by the drooping side branches of the inflorescence. The related western North American Veratrum californicum (white false hellebore, corn lily) can be distinguished from sympatric var. eschscholzianum by its whiter flowers and the erect side branches of the inflorescence. Distribution and habitat In eastern North America, var. viride occurs from southwestern Labrador and southern Quebec south to northern Georgia. In the west, var. eschscholzianum occurs from Alaska and Northwest Territory south through Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Oregon to northwestern California (Del Norte, Siskiyou, Trinity, and Humboldt Counties). It is found in wet soils in meadows, sunny streambanks, and open forests, occurring from sea level in the north of its range up to in the southeast and in the southwest. Medicine The plant is highly toxic, causing nausea and vomiting. If the poison is not evacuated, cold sweat and vertigo appear. Respiration slows, while cardiac rhythm and blood pressure fall. The toxic effects of veratrum alkaloids are directly induced by antagonism of adrenergic receptors. It is used externally by several Native American nations. Although