Veratrum nigrum, the black false hellebore,[2][3] is a widespread Eurasian species of perennial flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae.

55 BCE) and Pliny the Elder (23 AD – August 25, 79) both knew of its medicinal emetic as well as deadly toxic properties.

[5] Veratrum nigrum is native to Eurasia from France to Korea including Germany, Poland, Russia, China, and Mongolia.

[8][9][12] Long, green, coarse, woody spike racemes branch off in decussate patterns from the main trunk, with short pedicels supporting a single flower.

[8] Plants grown from seeds will generally push through the earth and sprout leaves in early spring.

[2][8] It is also used to add height to a garden,[8][18] and as a means of providing a darker backdrop to more brightly colored plants and flowers.

[12] Snails and slugs feed on the plant's rhizomes and leaves, so gardeners must take care to keep these pests away.

[24] Veratrum nigrum contains more than 200 steroid-derived alkaloids, including isorubijervine, jervine, pseudojervine, rubijervine, tienmuliumine, tienmuliluminine, and verazine.

[26] Classic symptoms of Veratrum nigrum toxicity include blurred vision, confusion, headache, lightheadedness, nausea, stomach pain, excessive sweating, and vomiting.

[26] The dry root of Veratrum nigrum can lower blood pressure and slow heart rate, possibly by stimulating the vagus nerve, if taken in small doses internally.

Cyclopamine is under investigation as a possible treatment for several cancers (such as basal cell carcinoma and medulloblastoma) and skin disorders (such as psoriasis), which result from excessive Hh activity.

Li lu is administered internally as an emetic, and is also used topically to kill parasites (such as tinea and scabies) or to stop itching.

[4] Some herbalists refuse to prescribe li lu internally, citing the extreme difficulty in preparing a safe and effective dosage.