Hansen's Northwest Native Plant Database

Veratrum viride (Corn Lily, False Hellebore)

 

Kingdom

 : 

 Plantae – Plants

Subkingdom

 : 

 Tracheobionta – Vascular plants

Superdivision

 : 

 Spermatophyta – Seed plants

Division

 : 

 Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants

Class

 : 

 Liliopsida – Monocotyledons

Subclass

 : 

 Liliidae

Order

 : 

 Liliales

Family

 : 

 Liliaceae – Lily family

Genus

 : 

 Veratrum L. – false hellebore

Species

 : 

 Veratrum viride Aiton – green false hellebore

It is easy to see why this perennial plant would be called Corn Lily: The wide leaves grow in a similar fashion and the yellow flowers hang in tassels looking much like the silk hanging from a ripe cob of corn.

But it is not related to corn and is not edible; in fact the roots contain a strong poison that is used as an insecticide.

This full sun plant prefers moist meadows, swamps and bogs.

It is a widespread plant found across much of Canada as well as most of the United States with the exception of the deep south, USDA zones 1-11.

Photo below left from SB Johnny.
   
  
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