Foxbane
Aconitum vulparia
Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae)
Since the iron age used as arrow poison
Aconitum has a long history of being a poisonous plant. All parts of the plant are poisonous with the roots and seeds being the most deadly. Monkscap was probably already being used as a poison for arrowheads in the Iron Age and was also renowned for getting rid of that enternal problem – opponents and was used in the execution of criminals by the Romans and Greeks. Most probably its Latin name reflects the Greek konè (killing); the species name vulparia comes from the Latin vulpus (fox) an animal that is often eradicated with poisonous food.
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Wolf's bane, or aconite, was probably already in use as an arrowhead poison in the Iron Age and was used to execute criminals by the Romans and Greeks. Its Latin name probably reflects the Greek konè (killing); the species name 'vulparia' comes from the Latin 'vulpus' (fox) an animal that is often eradicated with poisonous food.
All plant parts are poisonous, the roots and seeds are the most deadly.
The flower is well adapted to being cross pollinated by long-tongued bumblebees. The global distribution of the genus Bombus (bumblebee) and the monkscap are virtually identical.
Details
Description: | Herb, up to 1.25 m. |
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Distributions: | Europe |
Habitat: | Humid deciduous forest, particularly near streams and around natural springs. |
Year cycle: | Perennial (polycarpic decidous) |
Hardiness: | 14 - 23 f (hardy - average winter) |
Flowering period: | Juni - augustus |
Flower color: | Yellow |
Notes on flowers: | Yellow |
At its best: | Juni - augustus |