# Melanthium

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{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}}
{{automatic taxobox
|image = Veratrum parviflorum1SHSU.jpg  
|image_caption = ''Melanthium parviflorum''
|taxon = Melanthium
|authority = [L.](/source/Carl_Linnaeus)
|subdivision_ranks = Species
|subdivision =
}}

'''''Melanthium''''' is a genus of [herbaceous perennial](/source/herbaceous_perennial) [plant](/source/plant)s native to [North America](/source/North_America).  They are closely related to ''[Veratrum](/source/Veratrum)'', and in fact are included in that genus by some authors.  The distinction between ''Melanthium'' and ''Veratrum'' is based on various [morphological](/source/plant_morphology) traits, but it is not yet clear where the line is best drawn.<ref name="fna">{{cite web | url = http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=120114 | title = ''Melanthium'' Linnaeus | work = [Flora of North America](/source/Flora_of_North_America) }}</ref>

They contain [alkaloid](/source/alkaloid)s similar to those found in ''Veratrum'' and are thus assumed to be poisonous.<ref name="fna" />

==Species==
The [http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=281516 World Checklist] considers ''Melanthium'' as a synonym of ''Veratrum'', and accepts no species as members of ''Melanthium.'' Nor does [Plants of the World Online](/source/Plants_of_the_World_Online).[http://www.tropicos.org/Name/40016308 Tropicos] does likewise, adding that proposals have been made to reject the name ''Melanthium'' entirely.<ref>Zomlefer, W. B., W. S. Judd & K.N. Gandhi. 2010. (1928) Proposal to conserve the name ''Veratrum'' against ''Melanthium'' (Melanthiaceae). Taxon 59(2): 644-645.</ref> [http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=Melanthium The Plant List], [World Flora Online](/source/World_Flora_Online) and [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=120114 Flora of North America], however, do accept the following names in ''Melanthium:'' 
* ''[Melanthium latifolium](/source/Melanthium_latifolium)'' or ''[Veratrum hybridum](/source/Veratrum_hybridum)'' - eastern [United States](/source/United_States) from [Connecticut](/source/Connecticut) to [Alabama](/source/Alabama) and [Arkansas](/source/Arkansas)
* ''[Melanthium parviflorum](/source/Melanthium_parviflorum)'' or ''[Veratrum parviflorum](/source/Veratrum_parviflorum)'' - southern [Appalachians](/source/Appalachians) from [Virginia](/source/Virginia) to [Alabama](/source/Alabama)
* ''[Melanthium virginicum](/source/Melanthium_virginicum)'' or ''[Veratrum virginicum](/source/Veratrum_virginicum)'' - eastern [United States](/source/United_States) and [Mississippi Valley](/source/Mississippi_Valley) from [New York](/source/New_York_(state)) to [Iowa](/source/Iowa) south to [Texas](/source/Texas) and [Florida](/source/Florida)
* ''[Melanthium woodii](/source/Melanthium_woodii)'' or ''[Veratrum woodii](/source/Veratrum_woodii)'' - central + southeastern [United States](/source/United_States)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2708136}}

Category:Melanthiaceae
Category:Melanthiaceae genera
Category:Flora of the United States

{{Liliales-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Melanthium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanthium) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanthium?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.