[Wikipedia] Range, Habitat, Description, Varieties, Teratogenic effects: Veratrum californicum (California corn lily, white or California false hellebore) is an extremely poisonous plant[1] native to western North America, including the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains, as far north as Washington and as far south as Durango; depending on latitude, it grows from near sea level to as high as 11,000 feet.[2][3] It grows 1 to 2 meters tall, with an erect, unbranched, heavily leafy stem resembling a cornstalk.[4] It prefers quite moist soil, and can cover large areas in dense stands near streams or in wet meadows. Many inch-wide flowers cluster along the often-branched top of the stout stem; they have 6 white tepals, a green center, 6 stamens, and a 3 branched pistil. The buds are tight green spheres. The heavily veined, bright green leaves can be more than a foot long.[3] Veratrum californicum displays mast seeding; populations bloom and seed little in most years, but in occasional years bloom and seed heavily in synchrony.[5] The species usually blooms during midsummer from July to August.[6] Varieties[2] Veratrum californicum var. californicum from Washington to Durango Veratrum californicum var. caudatum (A.Heller) C.L.Hitchc. Idaho, Washington, Oregon, N California Teratogenic effects It is a source of jervine, muldamine and cyclopamine, teratogens which can cause prolonged gestation associated with birth defects[7] such as holoprosencephaly and cyclopia in animals such as sheep,[1] horses, and other mammals that graze upon it. These substances inhibit the hedgehog signaling pathway.[8] (contributed by Mary Ann Machi)