Practical
Plants

Aconitum rotundifolium

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

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.6 m
Fertility
Bees
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 - simple skin contact has caused numbness in some people[1][3][11][6].

Edible uses

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

Leaves - cooked[5]. This species is supposed to be non-toxic[5], but this report should be treated with some scepticism due to the highly toxic nature of the genus in general[K].

Plant part
Leaves

Environment

Range
Central Asia from Afghanistan to Tibet and eastern Russia.
Habitat
Stony slopes in the alpine and sub-alpine zone[12]. Alpine grasslandsaround elevations of 3100 metres in Tibet[8].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, 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[2]. The seed can be stratified and sown in spring but will then be slow to germinate[4]. 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][2]. 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[7].

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[6]. Prefers a calcareous soil. Grows well in open woodlands[1][9]. Members of this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits and deer[7]. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby species, especially legumes[10]. Closely related to A. napellus[1].

References

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

  5. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

  8. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

  12. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩

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