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Upcoming Events | Meet the Instructors | Plant Archive | Mushroom Archive
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Indian poke/False hellebore (Veratrum viride) is a native plant that is extremely toxic. It could be confused for ramps in the spring.
This perennial plant can be found in swamps and moist meadows.
The plant produces ribbed leaves that grow in a whorled pattern. Small yellow-green flowers appear in early summer.
The entire plant is toxic. It produces alkaloids that can cause nausea, vomiting, decreased respiration, and reduced blood pressure.
Indian poke could be confused for edible ramps (Allium tricoccum) in the spring when the leaves first emerge. Ramps differ from Indian poke by having smooth leaves. Ramps grow from a bulb and have an oniony scent when crushed.
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Written by Amy Demers, founder of the Connecticut Foraging Club. To learn more about foraging in Connecticut, check out our upcoming classes.
