Brunch with Battutah
Poisonous petals
Posted by Michael Skorulski (Cigel, Slovakia) on 24 February 2008 in Plant & Nature and Portfolio.
Known as Christmas rose or winter rose, Helleborus niger is not a member of the rose family at all. The plant is an evergreen that blooms in the dead of the European winter. I wanted to capture the flower covered in snow because that's when it's most interesting. But there hasn't been much snow this year.
The plant is toxic and was used in the past as a poison which can cause death from cardiac arrest.
@Craiger: Thank you, Craiger.
@dpm: They sure can. Thank you, dpm.
Elle from Sydney, Australia
They look harmless! Look like they're withering and can't possibly hurt anyone. Thanks for sharing this :) I never knew about this.
24 Feb 2008 6:23am
@Elle: Many thanks, Elle.
e. from New York, NY, United States
Wow, they're beautiful! It's really very deceptive.
24 Feb 2008 6:36am
@e.: Thank you. I agree they have their own beauty.
@Saeed: And thank you for visiting.
martie from Okinawa, Japan
Beautiful shot. Only goes to prove that beauty is only skin deep!
24 Feb 2008 7:02am
@martie: A nice way of putting it. Thank you, Martie.
Rhys from Darlington, United Kingdom
gosh, a sad, forlorn yet beautiful study. Their beauty hides a sinister story so it seems.
24 Feb 2008 7:26am
@Rhys: Great comment. Thanks, Rhys.
Sujit Sudhi from Hyderabad, India
Oh! They look so beautiful and harmless. Appearances can be deceptive, eh?
Great shot nevertheless.
24 Feb 2008 8:00am
@Sujit Sudhi: Many thanks, Sujit.
givethemhell from Germany
Oh, what a beauty! I have one Helleborus niger plant in my garden and value it highly.
24 Feb 2008 8:20am
@givethemhell: Thank you. My wife loves hellebores and collects many different kinds.
Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan
They are just blooming now and we were to Gora, in Hakone, on Friday, just one day too early for a show of such plants in one of the hothouses at Hakone Gora Park.I never saw them blooming outside, in gardens...not to say anything about snow! Only in pots at florists or hothouses. I favour the coloured ones. It's new to me that they are poisonous...I wonder how do the growers and florists handle them?! They have a most coy look, like nuns keeping their eyes down!
24 Feb 2008 8:39am
@Japanalia: Thank you, Gabriela. This one is from our rockery. I've seen it flowering while covered in snow. Marta has the colored ones too. Apparently many of the Hellebores are poisonous. But Marta tells me many plants in general are poisonous.
Ina from Krugersdorp, South Africa
Amazing that a pretty thing like this can me toxic! Obviously the animals will know it right?
Great shot, love it
24 Feb 2008 8:53am
@Ina: Thank you, Ina. Yes, I think the animals would have the sense to stay away.
MaryB from Staffordshire, United Kingdom
These are a beautiful example of this lovely little flower, I love the delicate pink tinge on the petals and the pretty yellow centres. Beautifully captured Michael.
I haven't seen these flowers for years, then the other day I saw them at a local market. My Mother used to grow them in our garden, they were a favourite of her's.
24 Feb 2008 9:56am
@MaryB: Yes. People really enjoy these and become fans similar to the feeling about orchids. But they are quite rare here in Slovakia as well. Thank you, Mary.
Richard_Irwin from Belper, United Kingdom
Good shot, over here in England the wild one is commonly known as 'Bearfoot' for some reason. But there are loads of different garden varieties. I guess its poisonous to protect it from getting eaten.
24 Feb 2008 10:34am
@Richard_Irwin: I think you are right. Thanks for the added information, Richard.
@Betty: Thank you, Betty.
Anne from White Rock, BC, Canada
Hard to believe it is poisonous - it is so pretty! Very nice shot! I had to remove some house plants to higher places when my granddaughter was big enough to explore by herself because the leaves were so poisonous! :-)
24 Feb 2008 11:04am
@Anne: Yes, I've heard about the toxicity of a number of houseplants. Thank you, Anne.
@Shaahin: And Thank you.
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
Amazing, how can something so soft and beautiful with such innocent hues be deadly....Wonderful compo :WHAT a SHOT ;)
24 Feb 2008 1:50pm
@Lorraine: Thank you, Lorraine. I appreciate that excellent comment.
@Teresa Durães: Thank you, Teresa.
@Ondro: Thank you, Ondro.
Sharon Y from Penang, Malaysia
I will learn to be careful if I see one of this plant :) Great shot!
24 Feb 2008 3:34pm
@Sharon Y: Humorous comment. Thank you, Sharon.
vu@granby - Wolfgang Prigge from Granby, QC, Canada
Nice photo of an interesting plant. First time ever I hear about it!
24 Feb 2008 3:58pm
@vu@granby - Wolfgang Prigge: I think it is generally not in North America. Thank you, Wolfgang
tyan from Singapore, Singapore
wo,thanks for the info,but i can think of many flowers which resemble this,gotta do my research now.Will anyone be poisoned just by touching it? Or smelling it?
24 Feb 2008 3:59pm
@tyan: The plant would be soaked in water or alcohol to extract the poison. Smelling or touching lightly wouldn't be a problem. Thank you, Tyan.
@yiannis krikis: Many thanks.
Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States
Poisonous "roses?" Another way of saying "all the glitters is not gold..."
24 Feb 2008 5:53pm
@Viewfinder: Exactly. Thank you, VF.
Michael Rawluk from Prince George, Canada
Beautiful. I guess you don't nibble on the leaves.
24 Feb 2008 5:55pm
@Michael Rawluk: Maybe a little taste now and again. Thanks, Michael.
Porcsin from Debrecen, Hungary
The spring is coming!
We have a beautiful sunny day in Hungary today! Consequently i rode bike with my family!
24 Feb 2008 5:58pm
@Porcsin: Sounds nice. Thank you.
@Elisa: And thank you.
@Brites: Many thanks, Brites.
@Earnest: thank you, Earnest.
Frankie from Boxmeer, Netherlands
The HelleborNiger is one of my favourites. It is so nice to see it blooming in the middle of the winter. Nice capture of this beautiful plant.
24 Feb 2008 8:49pm
@Frankie: Thank you very much, Frankie.
@MJ: Thank you, MJ.
standley from Brou-sur-Chantereine, France
Wonderful shot. Beautyful things are not always the best ones!
24 Feb 2008 9:46pm
@standley: True. They can have hidden thorns. Thank you, Standley.
Steven from Chicagoland, United States
Great composition. And now I'll know to take a "pass" if I'm offered a dozen of them. ;-)
24 Feb 2008 11:22pm
@Steven: Your're right. A great humorous comment. thank you, Steven.
@jelb: Merci, jelb.
Camiller from Lisboa, Portugal
Really nice photo. Interesting information about the flower.
25 Feb 2008 12:49am
@Camiller: Many thanks, Camiller.
@Stunner: Thank you, Stunner.
Rags from Plano, United States
Nice image, i really won't want to cross its path.
25 Feb 2008 3:37am
@Rags: Great comment. Thank you, Rags.
HorseRotorVator from Newton, United States
I learned something. Stay away from those! Cool shot and information! :)
25 Feb 2008 2:51pm
@HorseRotorVator: Thank you, HRV.
@Johanne Prescott: Thank you.
