Genus Veratrum L.


Summary
Genus number:
12678
Last updated:
1 August 2025
Family:
Melanthiaceae
Tribe:
Melanthieae
Accession count:

36 (18  active, 1  available) in National Plant Germplasm System
Comments:
  • conserved (nom. cons.) against the heterotypic synonym (Madrid ICN Art. 14.4 & App. III) Melanthium L., nom. rej.
  • Thunberg (Diss. Melanthio 1797) was the first to merge Veratrum and Melanthium, adopting Melanthium, so this name has priority if the two are synonymized without conservation of Veratrum


Synonyms
Probable synonym(s)

Subdivisions of Veratrum L.
Images (4 total. Click on image for more.)
Embryo drawing

Google Scholar   

References:
  1. Barrie, F. R. 2011. Report of the General Committee: 11. Taxon 60:1213. Note: proposal recommended
  2. Brummitt, R. K. 2011. Report of the Nomenclature Committee for Vascular Plants: 63. Taxon 60:1206. Note: proposal recommended
  3. Mathew, B. 1989. A review of Veratrum. Plantsman 11:35-61.
  4. Zomlefer, W. B. et al. 2003. An overview of Veratrum s.l. (Liliales: Melanthiaceae) and an infrageneric phylogeny based on ITS sequence data. Syst. Bot. 28:250-269. www.aspt.net/systematic-botany
  5. Zomlefer, W. B. et al. 2010. (1928) Proposal to conserve the name Veratrum against Melanthium (Melanthiaceae). Taxon 59:644-645.
Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomygenus?id=12678. Accessed 11 May 2026.