Pale Biddy-Biddy

Description

Veratrum album is a tall perennial herb with alternate, pleated leaves. The flowers are white, marked with green on the top portion of the stalk. The fruit is a small pod containing winged seeds. The stout, simple stems are 50 to 175 cm tall. They are commonly mistaken for Yellow Gentian, Gentiana lutea, which is used in beverages, resulting in poisoning.All part of the plant are poisonous, including its aroma. The plants have an estimated lifespan of several centuries and often achieve dominance in wild areas as they are unpalatable to grazing herbivores