Helleborus spp
Stinking hellebore, green hellebore, black hellebore, Christmas rose, setterwort, bear’s foot, etc, etc.
Upright palmate leaves (c 100mm diameter) growing from a bulb, flowers green to pink / purple depending on variety, in winter.
Many spp of hellebore are grown in NZ, those pictured are H. niger (Christmas rose).
Common in gardens.
They contain high concentrations of ranunculin, and some cardiac glycosidesas well (helleborein, helleborin). All parts are toxic.
Cattle and sheep. Most cases are from garden material being thrown into paddocks. Poisoning is rare in NZ. People have been poisoned by drinking milk from cows which have eaten hellebore.
Abdominal pain. Acute diarrhoea black with blood and mucus. Frequent straining and urination. Slow irregular pulse, convulsions and death. People vomiting and diarrhoea.
Inflammation with occasional ulceration or haemorrhage of the gastrointestinal tract.
History and clinical signs.
Gastrointestinal protectorants.
Conner H.E. The Poisonous Plants In New Zealand. 1992. GP Publications Ltd, Wellington
Cooper M R, Johnson A W. Poisonous Plants and Fungi in Britan: Animals and Human Poisoning. Her Majesty’s Stationary Office. London. 1998
Holliman, A. Milton, D Helleborus foetidus poisoning of cattle. [Correspondence] Veterinary Record. 1990. 127: 13, 339340.
Johnson, C.T. and Routledge, J.K. Suspected Helleborus viridis poisoning of cattle. Veterinary Record, 1971, 89, 202
Parton K, Bruere A.N. and Chambers J.P. Veterinary Clinical Toxicology, 3rd ed. 2006. Veterinary Continuing Education Publication No. 249
