Big, Medicinal, and Long-lived, Veratrum californicum, False Hellebore, Corn Lily

California false hellebore, Veratrum californicum, is a big plant you can't miss. It is very toxic. Rising temperatures threaten it. Altogether a fascinating native American wildflower.

 California false hellebore, Veratrum californicum,
in the Colorado Rockies

Plant Confusions: Hellebores, Helleborus and Veratrum species

The common name hellebore is confusing because three quite different plants are called hellebore or false hellebore. They're in the genera Helleborus, Veratrum and Adonis. Helleborus is just hellebore, Veratrum and Adonis are false hellebores, but of course sometimes the "false" is dropped. 

hellebore, Helleborus

All three are poisonous plants that have been used medicinally as purges, to cause vomiting and diarrhea. All three are sufficiently toxic as to be dangerous.