False hellebore (Veratrum viride) is found in meadows and along streams. The large blue-green leaves are distinctively veined, and have a whitish cast below, superficially resembling watermelon berry. The greenish-yellow flowers are born on a spike in drooping clusters. It is in the family Liliaceae (lily family).

Handling “fresh false hellebore can cause severe itching and skin irritations.” This plant is deadly poisonous! It contains toxic alkaloids that cause “violent symptoms” within “ten minutes of ingestion” including numbness of the limbs and vomiting. (Schofield 1998) 

It is regarded as "the strongest medicinal plant of the Dena'ina." (Kari 1995) “To get rid of germs in the house,” she says, the Dena’ina would “put a piece of the root on top of a hot wood stove and let it smoke.” The boiled root was applied to “aches and pains, wounds, rashes, and other skin ailments.” It is strongly recommended not to use this species internally, due to risk of death, and not to touch this plant. “As Kari says, ‘it can kill you if you fool around with it.’” (Schofield 1998) 

References

Hultén, Eric. Flora of Alaska and Neighboring Territories: A Manual of the Vascular Plants, 1968.

Kari, Priscilla Russell. Tanaina Plantlore Dena’ina K’et’una: An Ethnobotany of the Dena’ina Indians of Southcentral Alaska. Alaska Native Language Center (University of Alaska Fairbanks), Alaska Natural History Association, National Park Service, fourth edition, 1995. 

Russell, Priscilla N. English Bay and Port Graham Alutiiq Plantlore. Pratt Museum (Homer Society of Natural History), Chugach Heritage Foundation, and Alaska Native Plant Society, 1991.

Schofield, Janice J. Discovering Wild Plants: Alaska, Western Canada, The Northwest, fourth printing. Anchorage, AK, Alaska Northwest Books, 1998.

Viereck, Eleanor G. Alaska’s Wilderness Medicines: Healthful Plants of the Far North. Alaska Northwest Books, Fifth printing, 1995.

Author

Cecelia N. Dailey, 28 August 2025