Posted by Michael Skorulski (Cigel, Slovakia) on 24 February 2008 in Plants & 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.
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Excellent!
24 Feb 2008 12:27am
@Craiger: Thank you, Craiger.
looks can be deceiving...
24 Feb 2008 12:29am
@dpm: They sure can. Thank you, dpm.
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 1:23am
@Elle: Many thanks, Elle.
Wow, they're beautiful! It's really very deceptive.
24 Feb 2008 1:36am
@e.: Thank you. I agree they have their own beauty.
Nice shot. thank for your explanation
24 Feb 2008 1:47am
@Saeed: And thank you for visiting.
Beautiful shot. Only goes to prove that beauty is only skin deep!
24 Feb 2008 2:02am
@martie: A nice way of putting it. Thank you, Martie.
gosh, a sad, forlorn yet beautiful study. Their beauty hides a sinister story so it seems.
24 Feb 2008 2:26am
@Rhys: Great comment. Thanks, Rhys.
Oh! They look so beautiful and harmless. Appearances can be deceptive, eh? Great shot nevertheless.
24 Feb 2008 3:00am
@Sujit Sudhi: Many thanks, Sujit.
Oh, what a beauty! I have one Helleborus niger plant in my garden and value it highly.
24 Feb 2008 3:20am
@givethemhell: Thank you. My wife loves hellebores and collects many different kinds.
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 3:39am
@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.
Amazing that a pretty thing like this can me toxic! Obviously the animals will know it right? Great shot, love it
24 Feb 2008 3:53am
@Ina: Thank you, Ina. Yes, I think the animals would have the sense to stay away.
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 4:56am
@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.
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 5:34am
@Richard_Irwin: I think you are right. Thanks for the added information, Richard.
Beautiful shot!
24 Feb 2008 5:45am
@Betty: Thank you, Betty.
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 6:04am
@Anne: Yes, I've heard about the toxicity of a number of houseplants. Thank you, Anne.
nice shot, thanks for info :)
24 Feb 2008 7:19am
@Shaahin: And Thank you.
Amazing, how can something so soft and beautiful with such innocent hues be deadly....Wonderful compo :WHAT a SHOT ;)
24 Feb 2008 8:50am
@Lorraine: Thank you, Lorraine. I appreciate that excellent comment.
dangerous but beautifull. great macro
24 Feb 2008 9:39am
@Teresa Durães: Thank you, Teresa.
nice and sad flower :) great photo :)
24 Feb 2008 10:26am
@Ondro: Thank you, Ondro.
I will learn to be careful if I see one of this plant :) Great shot!
24 Feb 2008 10:34am
@Sharon Y: Humorous comment. Thank you, Sharon.
Nice photo of an interesting plant. First time ever I hear about it!
24 Feb 2008 10:58am
@vu@granby - Wolfgang Prigge: I think it is generally not in North America. Thank you, Wolfgang
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 10:59am
@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.
very nice colors
24 Feb 2008 12:46pm
@yiannis krikis: Many thanks.
Poisonous "roses?" Another way of saying "all the glitters is not gold..."
24 Feb 2008 12:53pm
@Viewfinder: Exactly. Thank you, VF.
Beautiful. I guess you don't nibble on the leaves.
24 Feb 2008 12:55pm
@Michael Rawluk: Maybe a little taste now and again. Thanks, Michael.
The spring is coming! We have a beautiful sunny day in Hungary today! Consequently i rode bike with my family!
24 Feb 2008 12:58pm
@Porcsin: Sounds nice. Thank you.
very interesting! thanks for sharing!!
24 Feb 2008 1:26pm
@Elisa: And thank you.
Excellent white balance!
24 Feb 2008 2:10pm
@Brites: Many thanks, Brites.
Great information... love it.
24 Feb 2008 3:01pm
@Earnest: thank you, Earnest.
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 3:49pm
@Frankie: Thank you very much, Frankie.
great shot and good information on the plant...
24 Feb 2008 4:38pm
@MJ: Thank you, MJ.
Wonderful shot. Beautyful things are not always the best ones!
24 Feb 2008 4:46pm
@standley: True. They can have hidden thorns. Thank you, Standley.
Great composition. And now I'll know to take a "pass" if I'm offered a dozen of them. ;-)
24 Feb 2008 6:22pm
@Steven: Your're right. A great humorous comment. thank you, Steven.
Bonjour, Beautiful shot...Nice details..Bravo!
24 Feb 2008 7:01pm
@jelb: Merci, jelb.
Really nice photo. Interesting information about the flower.
24 Feb 2008 7:49pm
@Camiller: Many thanks, Camiller.
Beautiful but deadly flower. Nicely captured.
24 Feb 2008 8:50pm
@Stunner: Thank you, Stunner.
Nice image, i really won't want to cross its path.
24 Feb 2008 10:37pm
@Rags: Great comment. Thank you, Rags.
I learned something. Stay away from those! Cool shot and information! :)
25 Feb 2008 9:51am
@HorseRotorVator: Thank you, HRV.
Beautiful shot!!
23 Mar 2008 8:52am
@Johanne Prescott: Thank you.
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