Aconitum
Aconitum
Aconitum (/əˈkɒnɪtəm/), also known as aconite, monkshood, wolf's bane, leopard's bane, mousebane, women's bane, devil's helmet, queen of poisons, or blue rocket, is a genus of over 250 species of flowering plants belonging to the family Ranunculaceae.
Etymology
The name Aconitum comes from the Greek ἀκόνιτον, which may derive from the Greek akon for dart or javelin, the tips of which were poisoned with the substance, or from akonae, because of the rocky ground on which the plant was thought to grow.
Description
Aconitum species are perennial plants, often growing over 2 m tall. The leaves are palmate or deeply palmately lobed with 5–7 segments. Each segment again is 3-lobed with coarse sharp teeth. The leaves have a spiral or alternate arrangement. The lower leaves have long petioles.
Medical Uses
Historically, Aconitum was used in Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine. However, because of its high toxicity, it is no longer in use. The root is highly toxic, causing nausea and vomiting, and can be fatal if eaten.
Toxicity
All Aconitum plants contain poisonous alkaloids that can, in sufficient quantity, be deadly. Monkshood is one of the most poisonous plants in the garden. Its toxins have been used in the past as a poison on arrows and as a poison to kill wolves, hence some of its common names.
Related Terms
- Ranunculaceae: The family to which Aconitum belongs.
- Alkaloid: A class of naturally occurring organic compounds that mostly contain basic nitrogen atoms.
- Perennial plant: A plant that lives more than two years.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Aconitum
- Wikipedia's article - Aconitum
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