Ranunculaceae- pronounced ra-noon-coo-lay-see-a

Aconite

Kingdom: Plantae

Family: Ranunculaceae

Genus: Aconitum

Species: napellus

Habitat: Rich, moist garden soil, temperate climates

Native: Europe

Common Names: Wolfsbane, monkshood, leopard's bane

Aconite is an herb; it is a sturdy low-growing perennial, and is found in gardens and in the wild throughout Europe and the United States. The blue flowers give the plant's common name 'monkshood' because the uppermost sepal is shaped like a helmet or a hood. Every part of the plant is extremely toxic. Backpackers should not be tempted by its white, carrot-shaped root. The poison in aconite, an alkaloid called aconitine, paralyzes the nerves, lowers blood pressure, and eventuall stops the heart. Ingesting the plant of its roots can bring on severe vomiting and then death by asphyxiation. Skin contact, however casual, can cause numbness, tingling, and cardiac symptoms. Aconite is said to spring from the spit of Cerberus as Hercules dragged him out of Hades. One of its other common names, wolfsbane, was acquired when ancient Greek hunters used it to hunt wolves as bait and arrow poison. (Fun fact: Prof. Snape of Harry Potter brewed it in the potion Wolfsbane to help Prof. Lupin in his change to a werewolf.)

-Wicked Plants, Amy Stewart

There's your lesson of the day. Don't eat this, kiddies.

This is a collab account for Eefara and musicfreak16. The random information posted above is meant to educate (and satiate mf16's mad desire to show her knowledge of poisonous plants). If you get the chance, Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities, by Amy Stewart, is a fascinating read.