Main Entry: hel·le·bore

Pronunciation: \ˈhel-ə-ˌbō(ə)r, -ˌbȯ(ə)r\

Function: noun

1 a : any herb of the genus Helleborus b : the dried roots and rhizome of any medicinal herb of the genus Helleborus (as black hellebore H. niger or green hellebore H. viridis) or a powder or extract of this used by the ancient Greeks and Romans in treating mental and other disorders
2 a : any of several poisonous herbs of the genus Veratrum b : the dried rhizome and roots of either of two hellebores of the genus Veratrum (the false hellebore V. viride of America and V. album of Europe) or a powder or extract of this containing alkaloids (as protoveratrine) used as a cardiac and respiratory depressant and also as an insecticide—called also veratrum, white hellebore