ACONITUM NAPELLUS

Aconitum napellus

Botanical name: Aconitum napellus Linn

Synonyms: Monk's Blood, or Monk's Hood, Wolf's Bane, Fuzi, Friar's Cap, Auld Wife's Huid.

Family: Ranunculaceae

Habitat: It grows on damp, shady fields, at high altitude of mountains. Western and central Europe

Parts used: The whole plants

Description:

• It is a perennial herb with a fleshy, spindle-shaped root
• Pale coloured when young, but subsequently acquiring a dark brown skin.
• The stem is about 3 to 6feet high, round green and slightly hairy above.
• The leaves are rounded, 5–10 cm diameter, dark green, glossy leaves, deeply divided in palmate manner and flowers in erect clusters of a dark blue colour.
• The flowers are dark violate colour and appears in May to July.The shape of the flower is specially designed to attract and utilize bee visitors, especially the humble bee.
• The flowers are dark purple to bluish-purple, narrow oblong helmet-shaped, 1–2 cm tall.