Hellebore Seed pods

A fellow-blipper photographed her hellebore bloom
with interesting seed pods poking out.  I immediately
went out to check mine.  Sure enough, I had some
too.  The pedals had become leather-like  and those
pods had grown in the middle.  I was charmed and
now want to read more about the sex lives of hellebore.
How are they pollinated in December and very early
March when there are no bugs about?