Higher classification Liliaceae | Scientific name Melanthium Rank Genus | |
Similar Liliaceae, Stenanthium, Melanthiaceae, Amianthium, Liliales | ||
melanthium
Melanthium is a genus of herbaceous perennial plants native to North America. They are closely related to Veratrum, and in fact are included in that genus by some authors. The distinction between Melanthium and Veratrum is based on various morphological traits, but it is not yet clear where the line is best drawn.
Contents
They contain alkaloids similar to those found in Veratrum and are thus assumed to be poisonous.
Species
The World Checklist considers Melanthium as a synonym of Veratrum, and accepts no species as members of Melanthium. Tropicos does likewise, adding that proposals have been made to reject the name Melanthium entirely. The Plant List and Flora of North America, however, do accept the following names in Melanthium:
References
Melanthium Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA