Nine Images of Veratrum nigrum, Black Hellebore, Black False Hellebore, li-lu, 藜芦 is a member of the Melanthiaceae (Melanthium family) native to Europe and Asia. It is a highly toxic poisonous plant grown as a garden ornamental since the mid eighteenth century. In minute, highly controlled dosage, it has traditionally been used to slow the heart rate and lower blood-pressure. Used in Traditional Chinese medicine topically for tinea and scabies. High toxicity limits utility of Veratrum species which contains more than 200 steroidal alkaloids.