Helleborus niger is commonly called the
associations with King’s College London.
Christmas Rose due to an old legend that
Robert
it sprouted in the snow from the tears of
Professor of Botany at King’s in 1859 and
a young girl who had no gift to give the
Henry Trimen (1843-1896) was curator of
Christ child in Bethlehem. This illustration
the anatomical museum at King’s between
Bentley
(1821-1893)
became
of the Christmas Rose is from Bentley and
1866 and 1867. ‘Medicinal plants’ soon became
Trimen’s ‘Medicinal Plants’ (1880). Both authors
the standard work in its area.
of this classic work of medical botany have
The image: Helleborus niger by David Blair FLS ‘Medicinal Plants’ by Bentley & Trimen