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Helleborus bocconei, Tenore (1823)
Helleborus bocconei represents a group of acaulescent plants that are highly
polymorphic, but the main features that distinguish it from most acaulescent
species other than its geographical position include: relatively large green or
yellow-green flowers that are pale without red markings; large leaves that are
frequently quite divided, but generally less so than Helleborus multifidus and
with wider leaflets; generally robust and vigorous but often with leaves and
flowers that are less hardy than other acaulescent species. It is one of the
earliest flowering species and is wintergreen in much of its natural range
(McLewin, Mathew and Thomsen. See below).
This Italian species is currently synonymous with Helleborus multifidus subsp.
bocconei (Mathew). There is however evidence that it should be regarded as a
separate species, and like the other subspecies of H. multifidus on this site, I
have here retained only the name 'bocconei' in an attempt to avoid confusion.
Sicilian plants have also been referred to as Helleborus siculus in the past,
but though the plants occur in a different environment than those on the Italian
mainland, the plants on Sicily do not seem morphologically unique, and
molecular analysis has shown that sequencing is identical to that of H.
bocconei. ** Plants in eastern Sicily are not unlike those on the adjacent
mainland; plants in western Sicily are generally smaller and often have lighter
colored sepals.
In the northern Italian provinces, H. bocconei and Helleborus viridis grow in
close proximity to one another. There are plants that appear to be intermediate
in form (and there is the possibility of hybrids) between the two species.
Therefore, some examples of H. bocconei look very much like H. viridis (This
is yet another example of why seedlings in gardens should not be labelled as
species based on their morphological appearance alone.). Still, in most of its
range, H. bocconei represents a fairly distinct species.
H. bocconei has larger flowers than H. multifidus, and in many cases it is a
larger and more vigorous plant. McLewin, Mathew, and Thomsen point out that
despite the fact H. multifidus is described as a green flowered species, most
populations include plants with reddish markings on the rim of the sepals and
may also have markings on the interior of the sepals. In H. multifidus, the base
of the leaflets (at the place where leaves are divided) also commonly have red
markings even in mature leaves; in H. bocconei the presence of permanent
anthocyanin appears to be absent.
These are underused plants in gardens and are arguably one of the more
useful green-flowered acaulescent species from a horticultural viewpoint.
________________________________________________________
** From "Helleborus bocconei and the Hellebores of Italy" (Mclewin, Mathew,
and Thomsen). Much of the information on this page (as well as the pages H.
'abruzzicus' and H. 'liguricus') derives from the article. At the time this page
was written the article was still unpublished but was scheduled to be the tenth
in a series of articles that have appeared in The New Plantsman/Plantsman.
These articles are extremely valuable for anyone with a serious interest in
hellebores and who is interested in recent information on hellebore species
and taxonomy.
- Perennial, mostly glabrous to slightly pubescent: 8-12" in flower
- Leaves basal, pedate, serrate to very coarsely toothed; leaflets often
raggedly divided for approximately half the length - Flowers green to white-green, around 2-2.5" in diameter
- Italy, Sicily
- Open woodland, scrub around 1500-5500'
Helleborus bocconei represents a group of acaulescent plants that are highly
polymorphic, but the main features that distinguish it from most acaulescent
species other than its geographical position include: relatively large green or
yellow-green flowers that are pale without red markings; large leaves that are
frequently quite divided, but generally less so than Helleborus multifidus and
with wider leaflets; generally robust and vigorous but often with leaves and
flowers that are less hardy than other acaulescent species. It is one of the
earliest flowering species and is wintergreen in much of its natural range
(McLewin, Mathew and Thomsen. See below).
This Italian species is currently synonymous with Helleborus multifidus subsp.
bocconei (Mathew). There is however evidence that it should be regarded as a
separate species, and like the other subspecies of H. multifidus on this site, I
have here retained only the name 'bocconei' in an attempt to avoid confusion.
Sicilian plants have also been referred to as Helleborus siculus in the past,
but though the plants occur in a different environment than those on the Italian
mainland, the plants on Sicily do not seem morphologically unique, and
molecular analysis has shown that sequencing is identical to that of H.
bocconei. ** Plants in eastern Sicily are not unlike those on the adjacent
mainland; plants in western Sicily are generally smaller and often have lighter
colored sepals.
In the northern Italian provinces, H. bocconei and Helleborus viridis grow in
close proximity to one another. There are plants that appear to be intermediate
in form (and there is the possibility of hybrids) between the two species.
Therefore, some examples of H. bocconei look very much like H. viridis (This
is yet another example of why seedlings in gardens should not be labelled as
species based on their morphological appearance alone.). Still, in most of its
range, H. bocconei represents a fairly distinct species.
H. bocconei has larger flowers than H. multifidus, and in many cases it is a
larger and more vigorous plant. McLewin, Mathew, and Thomsen point out that
despite the fact H. multifidus is described as a green flowered species, most
populations include plants with reddish markings on the rim of the sepals and
may also have markings on the interior of the sepals. In H. multifidus, the base
of the leaflets (at the place where leaves are divided) also commonly have red
markings even in mature leaves; in H. bocconei the presence of permanent
anthocyanin appears to be absent.
These are underused plants in gardens and are arguably one of the more
useful green-flowered acaulescent species from a horticultural viewpoint.
________________________________________________________
** From "Helleborus bocconei and the Hellebores of Italy" (Mclewin, Mathew,
and Thomsen). Much of the information on this page (as well as the pages H.
'abruzzicus' and H. 'liguricus') derives from the article. At the time this page
was written the article was still unpublished but was scheduled to be the tenth
in a series of articles that have appeared in The New Plantsman/Plantsman.
These articles are extremely valuable for anyone with a serious interest in
hellebores and who is interested in recent information on hellebore species
and taxonomy.
Sicilian Helleborus bocconei with pale
flowers held high above the deeply
dissected foliage.
Photos by Matthias Thomsen.
flowers held high above the deeply
dissected foliage.
Photos by Matthias Thomsen.