Aconitum      

Aconitum

Jump to: navigation, search

Natural hybrids

• Aconitum × austriacum
• Aconitum × cammarum
• Aconitum × hebegynum
• Aconitum × oenipontanum ( A. variegatum ssp. variegatum × ssp. paniculatum )
• Aconitum × pilosiusculum
• Aconitum × platanifolium ( A. lycoctonum ssp. neapolitanum × ssp. vulparia )
• Aconitum × zahlbruckneri ( A. napellus ssp. vulgare × A. variegatum ssp. variegatum )

Uses

The most common plant in this genus, Aconitum napellus (the Common Monkshood) was considered to be of therapeutic and of toxicological importance. Its roots have occasionally been mistaken for horseradish. It has a short underground stem, from which dark-colored tapering roots descend. The crown or upper portion of the root gives rise to new plants. When touched to one's lip, the juice of the aconite root produces a feeling of numbness and tingling. This plant is used as a food plant by some Lepidoptera species including Dot Moth, The Engrailed, Mouse Moth, Wormwood Pug, and Yellow-tail.

The roots of Aconitum ferox supply the Nepalese poison called bikh , bish , or nabee . It contains large quantities of the alkaloid pseudaconitine, which is a deadly poison. Aconitum palmatum yields another of the bikh poisons. The root of Aconitum luridum , of the Himalaya, is said to be as poisonous as that of A. ferox or A. napellus .

Several species of Aconitum have been used as arrow poisons. The Minaro in Ladakh use A. napellus on their arrows to hunt ibex, while the Ainu in Japan used a species of Aconitum to hunt bear. The Chinese also used Aconitum poisons both for hunting and for warfare.

Many species of Aconitum are cultivated in gardens, having either blue or yellow flowers. Aconitum lycoctonum (Alpine wolfsbane), is a yellow-flowered species common in the Alps of Switzerland. As garden plants the aconites are very ornamental, hardy perennial plants. They thrive in the garden soils, and will grow in the shade of trees. They are easily propagated by divisions of the root or by seeds; care should be taken not to leave pieces of the root where livestock might be poisoned.

Traditional uses

Aconite has long been used in the traditional medicine of Asia (India, China). In Ayurveda the herb is used to increase pitta (fire, bile) dosha and to enhance penetration in small doses. However more frequently the herb is detoxified according to the samskaras process and studies, cited in the detoxification section below show that it no longe

More Information About The Aconitum

Annuals produce an endless array of colors and sizes, and most are easy to plant and grow. For all their glorious color, annuals are very inexpensive.Wedding flowers add color and aroma to a wedding. Found in Africa, these brightly colored birds sit very close together

Flower Menu

• Gillyflower
• Ranunculus
• Protea
• Lily Of The Valley
• Peony
• Queen Annes Lace
• Hyacinthus
• Allium
• Billy Buttons
• Celosia