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Aconitum L.Ranunculaceae |
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Alternate trade names
monkshood Common names
aconites, monkshood, wolfsbane Species cultivated
Most commonly cultivated Aconitum napellus L. Other species A. xcammarum L. (hybrids of A. napellus x A. variegatum L.) A. carmichaelii Debeaux A. xarendsii (A. carmichaelii 'Arendsii') A. henryi Pritz. A. lamarckii Rchb. A. orientale Mill. Rhiz. Origin
Europe, Russia, China Brief characterization
Stems bearing shallowly to deeply palmately lobed or dissected leaves, with lobes further dissected or toothed, and terminal racemes or racemose panicles; distinctive hooded flowers with 5 petaloid sepals; one enlarged sepal forming a hood or 'helmet' covering other floral parts, 2 lateral sepals, and 2 lower, narrower sepals; 2 petals are long, spurlike, concealed under the hood, the rest are minute or absent; stamens numerous; 3-5 styles. Cultivar and/or species variation
Dense racemes or loose panicles 30-60 cm long; flower size, measured as length, is 2.5-5 cm long, flowers valued for their intense blue to blue-violet color; helmet shape and length varies, resulting in a range of shapes from broader than tall to taller than wide. Countries exporting
Kenya |