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Aconitum

(from Aconae, or Acone, a harbour of Heraclea, in Bithynia, near where it is said to abound). Aconite; Monk's Hood; Wolf's Bane. ORD. Ranunculaceae. An extensive genus of very ornamental hardly perennials. Flowers in terminal racemes; sepals five, the upper one helmet shaped, the two sides broader than the two back ones; petals five, small, the two upper with long claws hooded at the tip; the three inferior smaller or undeveloped. Leaves palmate. They thrive well in any ordinary garden soil. If left undisturbed for several years, they will attain a goodly size, and produce fine panicles of handsome flowers. They are invaluable for growing beneath the shade of trees, where they succeed better than almost any other class of plants. All are very easily propagated by divisions of the roots and seeds; the latter should be sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame. Care should be taken not to leave pieces of the roots about, for, with but one exception, those of all the species are very poisonous. Although very unlike horse-radish, they have frequently been mistaken for it, with fatal results; and none of the species should be cultivated in or near the kitchen garden.

Sect. I. Roots Tuberous.

A. acuminatum (taper-pointed). fl. bluish purple; spur capitate; helmet closed, conical, beaked, July. l. with cuneate, bipinnate lobes. H. 2ft. to 4ft. Switzerland. 1819.

A. album (white-flowered).* fl. pure white, large, with erect helmet, very freely produced. l. dark green, with oblong-cuneate divisions. August. h. 4ft. to 5ft. Levant, 1752. This is a rare and very handsome species. A. alpinum (alpine). Synonymous with A. Rostratum.

A. ampliflorum (large-flowered). fl. bluish-purple, large; spur obtuse, straight. June. l. with blunt segments. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Austria, 1823.

A. angustifolium (narrow-leaved).* fl. deep blue, in spiked panicles; spur capitate; helmet closed, hemispherical; lip bifid. June. l. palmately cut into linear lobes. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Siberia, 1824.

A. biflorum (twin-flowered).* fl. pale blue, usually twin, sessile, the middle rather obscure and with yellowish edges, covered on the back with spreading down; spur truncate; helmet depressed; beak drawn out. June. l. lower ones on long stalks, with linear segments. H. 6in. Siberia, 1817. A very rare alpine species.

A. Cammarum (Cammarum). fl. rich deep purple, on rather loose spikes; spur capitate; helmet closed, hemispherical. July to September. l. with short, bluntish lobes. h. 3ft. to 4ft. Austria, 1752.

A. cernuum (drooping). fl. violet, large, one nodding, loose hairy racemes; spur capitate, or a little hooked; helmet large, arched, beaked. July and August. l. with trapeziform, pinnate lobes. Branches axillary, spreading. h. 3ft. to 4ft. Europe, 1800.

A. delphinifolium (Delphinium-leaved).* fl. pale bluish purple, large, on loose racemes; spur a little hooked; helmet hemispherical. June. l. Smooth, deeply cut into five parts. Stems slender. h. 6in. to 2ft. North America, 1820. A rare alpine species.

A. elatum (tall). Fl. blue, very large, in loose panicled spikes; peduncles pubescent; spur capitate, inclining. June. l. with linear acute segments. h. 3ft. to 4ft. Europe, 1822.

A. eminens (eminent).* fl. blue, on erectly spreading pubescent peduncles; spur capitate; helmet closed; lip very long, refracted. June. l. with cuneate bipinnate lobes. h. 2ft. to 4ft. Europe, 1800.

A. eriostemon (woolly-stamened). fl. bluish-purple, disposed in long beautiful, erect-spreading spikes; spur capitate; helmet closed, arched. June. l. with cuneate, bipinnate lobes. h. 4ft. Switzerland, 1821.

A. exaltatum (exalted). fl. blue, on loose panicles, with ascending stiff branches; spur thick, somewhat hooked; helmet conical; beak elongated. July. l. with trapeziform, pinnate lobes. h. 6ft. Pyrenees, 1819. SYN. A. hamatum.

A. flaccidum (flaccid). fl. pale violet, large, on erect spreading peduncles; racemes branched; spur hooked at the apex; helmet high, arched, inclining forwards, gaping. July and August. l. multifid, ciliated (as well as the petioles), when young. h. 6ft. Siberia, 1822.

A. gibbosum (swollen). Synonymous with A. nasutum.

A. Gmelini (Gmelin's). fl. cream-coloured, middle-sized, on very long loose racemes; spur straight, obtuse; bottom of the helmet rounded, cylindrical. July. l. on long stalks, villous beneath and shining above; lobes divided into narrow segments. h. 2ft. Siberia, 1817. SYN. A. nitidum.

A. gracile (slender).* fl. pale blue or violet, large, on loose racemes; spur erect, clavated-hooked; helmet with a middle sized beak. June. l. smooth, with trapeziform, pinnate lobes. Stems slender. h. 2ft. Italy, &c.

A. Halleri (Haller's).* fl. opaque violet, on elongated, loose racemes, with a few lateral ascending ones; spur capitate; helmet convex-hemispherical, gaping. June. l. lobes linear, dilated, very long, Stem straight, long, branched. H. 4ft. to 6ft. Switzerland, 1821.

A. H. bicolor (two-coloured).* fl. white, variegated with blue-disposed in spikes or panicles. June.

A. hamatum (hooked). Synonymous with A. exaltatum. A. hebegynum (blunt-styled). Synonymous with A. paniculatum.

A. heterophyllum (various-leaved). fl. pale yellow, and deep blue in front, large, numerous, dense. August. l. petiolate below, sessile above, broadly cordate, coarsely toothed at the edge, and deep green. h. 2ft. Himalayas, 1874. A new introduction, said to be non-poisonous, and used as a tonic in India.

A. Illinitum (anointed). Fl. pale or deep violet, on very loose and much branched panicles, large; spur thick, long, abruptly pointed; beak blunt; helmet sub-conical. July. l. with broad cuneiform lobes, and obtuse lobules. H. 4ft. 1821.

A. intermedium (intermediate). Fl. blue, on a loose panicles, with ascending stiff branches; spur supine, somewhat hooked; helmet arched. June. l. with trapeziform, pinnate lobes. h. 3ft. to 4ft. Alps of Europe, 1820.

A. japonicum (Japanese).* fl. flesh-coloured, on loose panicles, with ascending branches; helmet exactly conical, abruptly mucronate; beak acute, straight. July to September. l. stalked, trifid; lateral lobes bifid, middle lobe trifid, all blunt and deeply toothed. Stem round, smooth. h. 6ft. Japan, 1790. One of the best species grown.

A. j. Coeruleum (blue). fl. blue. Japan.

A. laciniosum (jagged). fl. pale blue, or with a white base, large, on somewhat contracted racemes; spur clavated-hooked; helmet arched, conical. June. l. with jagged, trapeziform pinnate lobes. h. 3ft. Switzerland, 1820.

A. lycoctonum (true Wolf's-bane).* fl. livid-violet, rather large; racemes more or less pubescent, branched at the base; bottom of helmet cylindrical; beak elongated. July. l. large, seven-parted. Stem slender, simple, upright. h. 4th. To 6th. Europe, 1596.

A. maximum (largest). fl. pale blue; panicle loose, furnished with a few long distant, few-flowered, pubescent branches; spur short, incurved; helmet hemispherico-conical, obtuse. July. l. multifid, large, smooth. h. 6th. Kamtschatka, 1823.

A. meloctonum (Badger's-bane). fl. cream-coloured, loose, pubescent; panicle large, with diverging branches; spur arched; bottom of helmet conico-cylindrical. July. l. five to seven-parted, deep green. h. 2ft. to 4ft. Piedmont, 1821.

A. Meyeri (Meyer's). fl. bluish purple, on pubescent peduncles; spur capitate, inclining. June. l. with cuneate bipinnate lobes. h. 2ft. to 4ft. Bavaria, 1823.

A. molle (soft). fl. violet, large, puberulous; racemes panicled, pubescent; helmet irregularly conical, obtuse; front erect; spur capitate, or a little hooked. June. l. smooth, with trapeziform, pinnate lobes. h. 2ft. to 6ft. 1820

A. Napellus (little turnip).* Common Monk's Hood. Fl. blue, large, on a large terminal raceme; peduncles erect, pubescent; spur capitate; helmet convex-hemispherical, gaping, smoothish; lip revolute. Summer. l. pedately five-lobed. h. 3ft. to 4ft. There are a great number or varieties of this species cultivated and introduced. The following are some of the names representing slightly varying forms which have, however, been regarded as species by Reichenbach and other authors: acutum, amaenum, Bernhardianum, Braunii, callibotryon, clusianum, commutatum, firmum, formosum, Funkianum, hians, Hoppeanum, Koehleri, loetum, laxiflorum, laxum, Mielichhoferi, napelloides, neomontanum, neubergense, oligocarpus, rigidum, strictum, tenuifolium, venustum, virgatum. One of the most virulent of poisonous plants, both to cattle as swell as human beings; and, notwithstanding its eminently handsome appearance, it should only be planted in places where no danger is likely to arise from its presence.

A. nasutum (great-nosed). fl. violet; panicle contracted, quite smooth; spur elongated, arched; helmet conical, bending forward; beak short. June. l. with broad, trapeziform, pinnate lobes. h. 3ft. Caucasus, &c., 1818. SYN. A. gibbosum.

A. nitidum (shining). Synonymous with A. Gmelini.

A. Ottonianum (Otto's).* fl. blue, variegated with white; young peduncles nodding; spur supine, somewhat hooked; helmet arched. July, August. l. with trapeziform, pinnate lobes. h. 2ft. to 4ft. Carpathian Mountains. 1824.

A. paniculatum (paniculate).* fl. large, violet; panicle terminal, much branched, loose or contracted, more or less pubescent; helmet conical, beaked; front sinuate. June to September. l. smooth, with trapeziform, pinnate lobes. h. 2ft. to 3ft. France and Switzerland, 1815. SYN. A. hebegynum.

A. plicatum (folded). Synonymous with A. tauricum.

A. productum (long-lipped). fl. violet, downy, on few-flowered, loose, pubescent racemes; helmet straight, irregularly convex-conical, with a drawn-out beak; spur capitate. June. l. on long stalks with three-parted lobes. h. 1ft. Siberia.

A. rostratum (beaked).* fl. violet; panicle rather loose; spur thick, depressed, globose; helmet conical, elongated, abruptly pointed in front; beak stretched out. June. l. with trapeziform. Pinnate lobes. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Switzerland, 1752. SYN. A. alpinum.

A. Schleicheri (Schleicher's). fl. blue or violet, middle sized, on short racemes; spur capitate; helmet convex-hemispherical, gaping, smoothish. Summer. l. with finely jagged lobes. Stem Straight (or infracted), simple, slender. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Europe. SYN. S. vulgare.

A. semigaleatum (half-helmeted). fl. pale blue, pubescent when young, on very loose racemes; peduncles elongated; spur hooked; helmet convex, navicular. June. l. multifid, few, membranous, smooth; root about the size and form of a pea. h. 6in. to 2ft. Kamtschatka, 1818.

a. Sprengelii (Sprengel's). fl. bluish purple; spur obtuse, straight. June. l. with blunt, bipinnate lobes. h. 3ft. to 4ft. Europe, 1820.

A. tauricum (Taurian).* fl. deep blue, disposed in dense racemes; peduncles erect, smooth; lateral sepals smooth inside; spur blunt; helmet closed, hemi-spherical. June. l. segments almost pedately disposed and divided into linear acuminate lobes. h. 3ft. to 4ft. Germany, 1752. SYN. A. plicatum.

A. tortuosum (twisting). fl. pale or deep violet, large; panicle loose, few flowered; spur thick, long, abruptly pointed (neither arched, nor convolute). July. l. smooth, with narrow wedge-shaped lobes, and acute lobules. h. 6ft. to 8ft. North America, 1812.

A. toxicum (very poisonous). fl. violet, large, pubescent, on loose, also pubescent, racemes; spur hooked; helmet large, arched, with a blunt beak. June. l. smooth, with trapeziform pinnate lobes. Stem flexuous, almost simple. H. 2ft. America, 1825.

A. uncinatum (hooked).* fl. generally lilac, large, smooth; racemes loose, rather umbellate at the apex, very rarely panicled; spur somewhat spiral, inclined; helmet regularly conical, compressed. July. l. with trapeziform pinnate lobes. Stem with branches rising from the axils of the leaves. h. 4ft. to 8ft. North America, 1768.

A. variegatum (variegated).* fl. Blue, large, smooth; racemes panicled, loose; spur erect, clavated-hooked; helmet bent forward, inflated; beak ascending. July. l. lower, on long stalks; upper, sessile, smooth, thickish. h. 1ft. to 6ft. Europe, 1597.

A. v. albiflorum (white-flowered).* fl. white, small; helmet straight. A. v. bicolor (two-coloured).* fl. white, edged with blue or licac; helmet straight.

A vulgare (common). A synonym of A. Schleicheri.

A. Willdenovii (Willdenow's).* fl. bluish-purple; peduncles pubescent; spur obtuse, straight. June. l. with blunt segments. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Carniola, 1823.

Sect. II. Roots Fibrous or Napiform.

A. Anthora (Anthora).* fl. pale yellow; panicles generally pubescent; spur refracted; lip obcordate; helmet arched. July. l. palmately cut into linear lobes. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Pyrenees, 1596. The following varieties of A. Anthora are erroneously classed as species by some authors:

A. A. Decandollii (Decandolle's). fl. yellow; panicle and flowers pubescent; helmet rather conical, bent, with a short, abrupt, and acuminated beak. l. with rather large dark green lobes. Alps of Jura, 1873.

A. A. eulophum (well-crested). fl. yellow; panicles and flowers puberulous; helmet conical. Caucasus, 1821.

A. A. grandiflorum (large-flowered). fl. yellow, large; panicle, flowers, and fruit pubescent; helmet rather conical. Alps of Jura, 1821.

A. A. Jacquinii (Jacquin's). fl. yellow, smooth; helmet somewhat conical, drawn out into an elongated beak.

A. A. nemorosum (grove-loving).* fl. yellow; panicle and flowers pubescent; helmet somewhat conical, bent; beak short. l. with broad lobes.

A. autumnale (autumn-flowering).* fl. bluish-purple, in loose panicles; peducles rigidly spreading; spur capitate; helmet closed; lip very long, refracted. July. l. with cuneate, bipinnate lobes h. 3ft. to 4ft. Europe. A. barbatum (bearded).* fl. cream. Coloured, middle sized; racemes dense, puberulous; spur straightish, obtuse; bottom of helmet conical; middle sepals densely bearded. July. l. opaque, with the lobes divided into many linear segments, on long stalks, which are villous as will as the nerves. H. 2ft. to 6ft. Siberia, 1807. SYN. A. squarrosum.

A. chinense (Chinese).* fl. intense and very bright blue, in large compound racemes; pedicels slightly hairy above. Summer. l. lower ones large, deeply cut into three wedge-shaped segments, tapering at the base; upper ones sessile, gradually becoming more entire. h. 4ft. to 6ft. China, 1833.

A. Lamarckii (Lamarck's). fl. cream-coloured, pubescent; racemes long, cylindrical, crowded, branched at the base; spur spiral; helmet constricted, clavate. July. l. large, seven to nine-parted, with the lobes unequally cleft. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Pyrenees, 1800.

A. lupicidum (Wolf's-bane). Synonymous with A. Vulparia.

A. macrophyllum (large-leaved). Fl. yellow, numerous, panicled; spur arched; helmet large, somewhat ventricose at the apex. July. l. large, more of less dissected. h. 4ft. to 8ft. Germany.

A. Nuttallii (Nuttall's). Synonymous with A. ochroleucum.

A. ochroleucum (yellowish-white).* fl. cream coloured, large; spur arched; bottom of helmet conico-cylindrical; middle sepals covered with short hairs; racemes puberulous, rather loose. July. l. five to seven-parted, deep green, the first ones are puberulous above. H. 2ft. to 4ft. Russia, 1794. SYNS. A. Nuttallii, A. pallidum.

A. Pallasii (Pallas'). Probably a mere variety, with a continuous spur, of A. anthora.

A. pyrenaicum (Pyrenean).* fl. yellow, rather large; spur hooked; bottom of helmet cylindrical, rounded; racemes elongated, dense, puberulous. June. l. parted almost to the base, with pinnatifid lobes, rather hispid beneath, but smooth above, on long stalks. h. 2ft. Pyrenees, &c., 1739.

A. squarrosum (rough). Synonymous with A. barbatum.

A. vulparia (For-bane).* pale yellow, smooth; spur spiral; helmet cylindrical, large; beak stretched out, acute; racemes crowded. July. l. three or five-lobed, ciliated. H. 1ft. to 3ft. Europe, 1821. SYN. A lupicidum. The principal varieties of this species are:--

A. v. carpaticum (Carpathian). fl. panicled, of a lurid colour, sometimes variegated with yellow; helmet conico-cylindrical, compressed; peduncles smooth. l. profoundly cut. Stems smooth. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Carpathian Mountains, 1810.

A. v. Cynoctonum (tall Dog's-bane). fl.(and stem) yellow, smoothish, numerous, panicled. h. 3ft. to 4ft. France, 1820.

A. v. moldavicum (Moldavian). fl. violet, panicled; helmet cylindrical, compressed. h. 3ft. to 4ft. Moldavia.

A. v. rubicundum (reddish). Fl. livid violet, panicled, villous, variegated with yellow; helmet conico-cylindrical, compressed. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Siberia, 1819.

A. v. septentrionale (northern).* fl. blue, panicled, villous; helmet conico-cylindrical, compressed. h. 4ft. North Europe, 1800.