Practical
Plants

Aconitum napellus

Aconite

a perennial member of the Aconitum genus in the family Ranunculaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1.5 m
Spread
0.3 m
Fertility
Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The whole plant is highly toxic, acting especially on the nerve centres. At first it stimulates the central and peripheral nervous system and then paralyzes it. Other symptoms of poisoning include a burning sensation on the tongue, vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhoea. Simple skin contact with the plant has caused numbness in some people[20][23][25][2][6][11][22][24][17]. The root contains 90% more poison than the leaves[14].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Some reports suggest the root is edible if cooked[27][26], but these should be treated with extreme caution due to the highly toxic nature of the plant[K]. There are no edible uses listed for Aconitum napellus.

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Aconite has been used since ancient times, especially as an antidote to poisoning[17]. Since the entire plant is itself very toxic, however, any use should be under the guidance of a skilled practitioner[20]. All parts of the plant are used medicinally. The root is the most important and this is harvested as soon as the plant dies down in the autumn and is dried before use[20]. The other parts of the plant are less important and are used fresh, being harvested when the plant is coming into flower[20]. The root is analgesic, anodyne, antirheumatic, diaphoretic, diuretic, irritant and sedative[20][23][25][7][13]. Due to its poisonous nature, it is not normally used internally though it has been used in the treatment of fevers[13]. Externally, it is applied to unbroken skin in the treatment of rheumatism, painful bruises, neuralgia etc[13][18]. All parts of the plant, except the root, are harvested when the plant is in flower and used to make a homeopathic medicine[14]. This is analgesic and sedative and is used especially in the treatment of fevers, inflammation, bronchitis, neuralgia etc[25][14].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Anodyne
Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Homeopathy
Product or use
Irritant
Product or use
Sedative

Environment

Range
Most of Europe, including Britain, east to N. W. Asia and the Himalayas.
Habitat
Damp shady places and moist rich meadows in southern Wales and south-western England[23][4][19][7][9]. It is usually found in calcareous soils[25].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[3]. The seed can be stratified and sown in spring but will then be slow to germinate[5]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer. Division - best done in spring but it can also be done in autumn[1][3]. Another report says that division is best carried out in the autumn or late winter because the plants come into growth very early in the year[15].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Thrives in most soils and in the light shade of trees[1]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers a moist soil in sun or semi-shade[13]. Plants only thrive in a sunny position if the soil remains moist throughout the growing season[16]. Prefers a calcareous soil. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.5 to 7.5. Plants take 2 - 3 years to flower when grown from seed[17]. Grows well in open woodlands[1][20]. The flowers are very attractive to bees[17]. Members of this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits and deer[15]. Although the plant is a perennial, individual roots only live for one year and die after flowering. Each root produces a number of 'daughter' roots before it dies and these can be used for propagating the plant[20]. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby species, especially legumes[21]. An aggregate species which is divided by some botanists into many species[8][24].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Altmann. H. Poisonous Plants and Animals. Chatto and Windus 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-7011-2526-8

    ↩

  3. Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩

  5. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 1987-00-00

    ↩

  6. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

    ↩

  7. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩1↩2

  8. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  9. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

    ↩

  10. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

  11. Stary. F. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-600-35666-3

    ↩

  12. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

  13. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  14. Castro. M. The Complete Homeopathy Handbook. Macmillan. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-333-55581-3

    ↩1↩2↩3

  15. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩1↩2

  16. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩

  17. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  18. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩

  19. Brown. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland.

    ↩

  20. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  21. Hatfield. A. W. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-584-10141-4

    ↩

  22. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩

  23. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  24. Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291

    ↩1↩2

  25. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  26. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)

    ↩

  27. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)

    ↩

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