Flora, seu, De florum cultura, or, A complete florilege, furnished with all requisites belonging to a florist by John Rea, Gent.

Helleborus niger verus.

THe true black Hellebor, from a root composed of divers long brown strings, running deep into the ground, and fastened to a big head, springeth up many green leaves, standing on big stiff foot-stalks, divi∣ded into eight or nine parts, and nicked about the edges; the flow∣ers come forth in Winter, upon such short fat foot-stalks, in form like unto single white Roses, at first white, but by long standing turn to be of a blush-colour, with a pale yellow thrum, and a green head in the middle; chiefly respected for the early flowring, which is commonly about Christmas, and therefore by many called the

Winter or Christmas Rose; there are some other sorts of black Hellebor, but none of any beauty or esteem, but this only.