Aconitum (/ ˌækəˈnaɪtəm /), [2] also known as aconite, monkshood, wolfsbane, devil's helmet, or blue rocket, [3] is a genus of over 250 species of flowering plants belonging to the family Ranunculaceae. These herbaceous, frequently toxic perennial plants are chiefly native to the mountainous parts of the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia, [4] growing in the moisture ...
Wolfsbane gets it’s name for being the poison used to kill carnivores such as, wolves and panthers, in the 18th century (Aggrawal 2009), it was put into raw meat to bait the animals (Blaisdell 1995). Some believed that it was even aconite that caused rabies in these animals later on because of its horrifying side affects (Blaisdell 1995).
Wolfsbane, an herbaceous perennial known as monkshood or devil’s helmet, is recognized for its striking blue or purple flowers. Despite its captivating beauty, this Aconitum genus plant is profoundly toxic. The Plant’s Potent Nature Wolfsbane’s potent nature stems from highly toxic compounds, primarily alkaloids such as aconitine, mesaconitine, and hypaconitine. All parts of the plant ...
The word “wolfsbane” can conjure images of an enchanted forest, a potion, a mystery novel, or wolves howling at a full moon. Variably spelled wolf’s bane or wolfbane, wolfsbane is the common name for a poisonous plant of the genus Aconitum known to grow in alpine climates in Europe. Sometimes referred to as monkshood or helmet flower, the different species of wolfsbane produce flowers ...
The CREW Plant Lab works with Aconitum noveboracense, commonly referred to as Northern Wild Monkshood or Wolfsbane! Plants in the Aconitum genus are highly toxic, surrounded by history and folklore. The common name “Wolfsbane” is thought to originate from the European practice of using the plant as a poison on arrows and spears to kill wolves.