Veratrum, genus of poisonous herbs of the family Melanthiaceae. The genus includes about 25 to 30 perennial species, among them the American hellebore and the European hellebore (see hellebore) and the false hellebore (see skunk cabbage). They bear flowers that are greenish white to brownish purple and are planted as ornamentals. Their poisons have commercial value as insecticides and medicine.