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Aconitum napellus L.

Monk's-hood (en), Acinitum napellus (fr), Casque (fr), Aconit napel (fr), Casque de Jupiter (fr)

Species

Angiosperms > Ranunculales > Ranunculaceae > Aconitum

Characteristics

Stem stout and erect, to 12 dm, from a turnip-like root; lvs divided to the base, the divisions deeply cleft, usually to below the middle, into numerous linear-oblong segments; inflorescence elongate, with crowded blue to variegated or white fls; rachis and pedicels nearly glabrous, but with remote, incurved hairs. Native of Europe, rarely escaped from cult. in N. Engl. July–Sept.
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A small herb or shrub. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 1.5-1.8 m high. It spreads 60-80 cm wide. The leaves are dark green and slightly hairy. They have 5-7 toothed lobes. The flowers are in dense heads. They are bright purple-blue. They are the shape of helmets. They on top of tall stems.
Life form perennial
Growth form herb
Growth support -
Foliage retention deciduous
Sexuality hermaphrodite
Pollination entomogamy
Spread barochory
Mature width (meter) 0.1 - 0.5
Mature height (meter) 1.05 - 1.5
Root system -
Rooting depth (meter) -
Root diameter (meter) -
Flower color
Blooming months
JanFebMar
AprMayJun
JulAugSep
OctNovDec
Fruit color -
Fruiting months
JanFebMar
AprMayJun
JulAugSep
OctNovDec
Nitrogen fixer -
Photosynthetic pathway c3

Environment

Damp shady places and moist rich meadows in southern Wales and south-western England. It is usually found in calcareous soils.
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It is a temperate plant. It suits hardiness zones 5-9.
Light 4-8
Soil humidity 3-7
Soil texture 1-5
Soil acidity 3-8
Soil nutriment -
Hardiness (USDA) 6-8

Usage

CAUTION: Aconitums are usually very poisonous. They contain toxic alkaloids including aconitine. It affects the nerves and heart. THEY SHOULD NOT BE EATEN. The tubers are eaten as a tonic.
Uses environmental use material medicinal ornamental poison
Edible roots tubers
Therapeutic use Leprosy (unspecified), Analgesics (root), Antirheumatic agents (root), Erysipelas (root), Gout (root), Heart diseases (root), Neuralgia (root), Analgesics (stem), Analgesic (unspecified), Anesthetic (unspecified), Anodyne (unspecified), Antispasmodic (unspecified), Cancer (unspecified), Diuretic (unspecified), Heart (unspecified), Narcotic (unspecified), Nerves (unspecified), Neuralgia (unspecified), Poison (unspecified), Poison(Arrow) (unspecified), Rheumatism (unspecified), Sedative (unspecified), Sudorific (unspecified), Fever (unspecified), Amenorrhea (unspecified), Analgesics (unspecified), Antidotes (unspecified), Anti-inflammatory agents (unspecified), Antipyretics (unspecified), Antirheumatic agents (unspecified), Aphrodisiacs (unspecified), Appetite stimulants (unspecified), Asthma (unspecified), Bronchitis (unspecified), Cardiotonic agents (unspecified), Colic (unspecified), Cough (unspecified), Cystitis (unspecified), Diabetes mellitus (unspecified), Diarrhea (unspecified), Digestive system diseases (unspecified), Diuretics (unspecified), Dysmenorrhea (unspecified), Dyspepsia (unspecified), Disorder of ejaculation (unspecified), Expectorants (unspecified), Flatulence (unspecified), Gout (unspecified), Headache (unspecified), Heart diseases (unspecified), Hypnotics and sedatives (unspecified), Hypotension (unspecified), Inflammation (unspecified), Liver diseases (unspecified), Menstruation-inducing agents (unspecified), Narcotics (unspecified), Nervous system diseases (unspecified), Nasal disease (unspecified), Pain (unspecified), Paralysis (unspecified), General tonic for rejuvenation (unspecified), Sciatica (unspecified), Skin diseases (unspecified), Splenic diseases (unspecified), Urination disorders (unspecified), Reduced salivation (unspecified), Diaphoretic (unspecified), Depurative (unspecified)
Human toxicity -
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

Can be grown by divisions or seedlings.
Mode divisions seedlings
Germination duration (days) 5 - 270
Germination temperacture (C°) 15 - 18
Germination luminosity -
Germination treatment -
Minimum temperature (C°) -23
Optimum temperature (C°) -
Size -
Vigor -
Productivity -

Images

Habit

Aconitum napellus habit picture by cedric cedric (cc-by-sa)
Aconitum napellus habit picture by Rodrigo cardoso (cc-by-sa)
Aconitum napellus habit picture by Rodrigo cardoso (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Aconitum napellus leaf picture by Duncan Grieves (cc-by-sa)
Aconitum napellus leaf picture by cedric cedric (cc-by-sa)
Aconitum napellus leaf picture by Vanessa Prioux (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Aconitum napellus flower picture by brian (cc-by-sa)
Aconitum napellus flower picture by cedric cedric (cc-by-sa)
Aconitum napellus flower picture by Domi Domi (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Aconitum napellus fruit picture by isabel maria sancho (cc-by-sa)
Aconitum napellus fruit picture by Theo Theo Roche (cc-by-sa)
Aconitum napellus fruit picture by Serrano (cc-by-sa)

Distribution

Aconitum napellus world distribution map, present in Canada, China, France, and United States of America

Identifiers

LSID urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:707615-1
WFO ID wfo-0000517688
COL ID 9GJ4
BDTFX ID 562
INPN ID 80037
Wikipedia (EN) Link
Wikipedia (FR) Link

Synonyms

Aconitum neubergense Aconitum confertum Aconitum ampliflorum Aconitum anglicum Aconitum fornicatum Aconitum funckii Aconitum halleri Aconitum microstachyum Aconitum venustum Napellus vulgaris Aconitum grandiflorum Aconitum spicatum Aconitum willdenowii Delphinium napellus Aconitum occidentale var. splendens Aconitum napellus var. paniculatum Aconitum napellus

Lower taxons

Aconitum napellus subsp. corsicum Aconitum napellus subsp. lobelii Aconitum napellus subsp. lusitanicum Aconitum napellus subsp. vulgare Aconitum napellus subsp. splendens
WorldFloraDB 2024