monkshood and wolfsbane are also known as

#MONKSHOOD AND WOLFSBANE ARE ALSO KNOWN AS SKIN#
#MONKSHOOD AND WOLFSBANE ARE ALSO KNOWN AS FULL#

While the entire plant is poisonous, the roots have the highest concentration of the toxin. Ingestion of aconitine causes nerve paralysis, low blood pressure, ventricular arrhythmia, and heart failure. It has documented use as a poison by the Inupiat. napellus was also known as “wolfsbane” because it was used as a nerve poison to kill wolves (typically put in raw meat as bait). contain the alkaloid toxins aconitine, mesaconitine, hypaconitine, and others.

#MONKSHOOD AND WOLFSBANE ARE ALSO KNOWN AS SKIN#

May even cause paraesthesia from skin contact, although not common. The whole plant is highly toxic to people and animals, as are all species in the genus aconitum. Monkshood looks similar to Larkspur, except with a narrower stem and a “hood” over the top of the purple to dark-blue flower.įor information only (typically historical) – I take no responsibility for adverse effects from the use of any plant. The entire flower is 2-4 cm tall from the bottom of the pendant sepals to the top of the hood. The lower two sepals are flat and slightly pointed at the tip, the 2 lateral sepals are kidney-shaped, forming the tube, and the upper sepal is the beaked crescent-shaped hood. The flower is slightly tubular, composed of 5 outer sepals and two petals that are hidden in the upper sepal hood. The blossoms are green or green-yellow before developing the purple color. The flowers are purple or dark blue, bilaterally symmetric, and distributed on raceme or panicle inflorescence of 3-15 flowers near the top of the stem. The leaves are alternate, cauline, 7-13 cm (3-5 in) in width, and have five deeply divided lobes, each containing three smaller lobes. Taller plants require other companion plants to remain upright. The plant grows erect, 0.3-1 m (1-3 ft) high from a narrow stem. The tuber is typically composed of a parent tuber and a single, continuous daughter tuber, connected by a short branch. delphiniifolium is a perennial herb growing from tuberous roots.

You can transplant your seedlings into your garden after your last frost. Cold stratify them in your refrigerator for 3 weeks then place the container on a shady windowsill. Start your seeds 10 weeks before your last frost. If you prefer to start your seeds indoors, they will need a period of cold stratification to mimic the cold weather of winter. Plant the seeds where you want them to grow because the plants don’t like being transplanted. They should be sown directly into your garden in the fall, early winter or early spring. Unlike most perennials, they don’t need to be divided regularly which is fortunate because they don’t like having their roots disturbed. Dig them up in the fall or spring and divide them gently. Monkshood is usually propagated by division. Newer cultivars can be white or bicolor, blue and white. The flowers are blue and borne on stalks.

When grown in partial shade, the plants need staking.

#MONKSHOOD AND WOLFSBANE ARE ALSO KNOWN AS FULL#

Full grown specimens are anywhere from 3 to 5 feet tall. It likes rich, moist soil so keep it well-watered. Monkshood will tolerate full sun, but prefers partial shade. The plants die to the ground in the fall. It is a perennial plant that is native to the northern hemisphere and is hardy from zones 4 through 8. Monkshood gained its name from the shape of its flower which resembles the hood on a monk’s habit. It is also mentioned as a poison in Greek and Roman records. The tips of soldiers’ spears were dipped in poison to hasten the deaths of their foes.ĭespite being poisonous, monkshood has been used medicinally in Chinese, Japanese and Ayurvedic medicine. Unfortunately, it has also been used in warfare. Historically, the poison from monkshood has been used in hunting wolves, bears and even whales. When grown in your garden, be sure to keep small children and pets away from it. You should wear gloves when handling it and wash your hands afterwards. It contains a neurotoxin, aconitine, that can kill humans and other animals. Monkshood ( Aconitum napellus), also known as wolfsbane, is not just poisonous for wolves.

Monkshood and wolfsbane are also known as