Tribe III. HELLEBOREÆ. Sepals imbricated in the bud, rarely persistent, petal-like. Petals often nectariferous or reduced to staminodia or none. Pods (follicles) or berries (in n. 20, 21) few, rarely single, few–many-seeded.—Leaves alternate.
[*] Ovules and commonly seeds more than one pair. Herbs.
[+] Flowers regular, not racemose. Petals inconspicuous nectaries or slender or none. Sepals tardily deciduous.
10. Isopyrum. Petals none. Sepals broad, white. Pods few. Leaves compound.
11. Caltha. Petals none. Sepals broad, yellow. Leaves kidney-shaped, undivided.
12. Trollius. Petals 5–20, narrow, pitted above the base. Pods sessile. Leaves palmately lobed.
13. Coptis. Petals 5–6, small, hollowed at apex, white. Pods long-stalked. Leaves radical, trifoliolate.
14. Helleborus. Petals small, tubular, 2-lipped. Sepals 5, broad, persistent and turning green. Pods sessile.
15. Eranthis. Petals small 2-lipped nectaries. Sepals 5–8, narrow, deciduous. Flower solitary, involucrate.
[+][+] Sepals and large spur-shaped petals regular, each 5.