aconite

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aconite

, aconitum

1. any of various N temperate plants of the ranunculaceous genus Aconitum, such as monkshood and wolfsbane, many of which are poisonous

2. the dried poisonous root of many of these plants, sometimes used as an antipyretic

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

Aconite

(pop culture)

Aconite (aconitum napellus) is another name for wolfsbane or monkshood. This poisonous plant was believed by the ancient Greeks to have arisen in the mouths of Cerberus (a three-headed dog that guards the entrance to Hades) while under the influence of Hecate, the goddess of magic and the underworld. It later was noted as one of the ingredients of the ointment that witches put on their body in order to fly off to their sabbats. In Dracula (Spanish, 1931), aconite was substituted for garlic as the primary plant used to repel the vampire.

Sources:

Emboden, William A. Bizarre Plants: Magical, Monstrous, Mythical. New York: Macmillan Publishing, 1974. 214 pp.

aconite

[′ak·ə‚nīt]

(botany)

Any plant of the genus Aconitum. Also known as friar's cowl; monkshood; mousebane; wolfsbane.

(pharmacology)

A toxic drug obtained from the dried tuberous root of Aconitum napellus; the principal alkaloid is aconitine.

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Aconite

(Aconitum), monkshood, a genus of perennial herbaceous plants of the family Ranunculaceae. Roots are tuberous and thickened; leaves palmate-incised or palmate-compound; flowers yellow, blue, or violet, rarely white, arranged in a more or less thick apical raceme. The calyx consists of five petaloid colored bracts. The upper bract resembles a helmet covering two nectaries (modified petals). About 300 species grow in the northern hemisphere, about 75 of these in the USSR. Most of the aconite species are poisonous; they contain alkaloids such as aconitine and zongorine. Many aconite species are cultivated as ornamentals.

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References in periodicals archive ?

They include winter aconite and glory-of-the-snow as well as snowdrops.

You should be seeing foliage from bulbs popping up

The winter aconite sports lemon-yellow flowers above collars of dark green foliage, naturalizes well and is deer-proof.

Thoughts of spring lighten winter's veil

From the moment the first snowdrops and winter aconite bloom in early spring until the last flowers of sedum fade, I am thankful for the beautiful flowers in my garden.

Even in cold winter months, I'm thankful for the garden

Gardeners can help by providing the right flowers ( good plants to try include crocus, grape hyacinth (muscari) and winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis), as well as pulmonaria, Clematis cirrhosa, Erica carnea and spring-flowering mahonias.

Don't worry bee happy

Anemones also look great planted among the yellow blooms of the winter aconite and the propeller-shaped flowers of Cyclamen coum.

BestOf TheBunch ANEMONES

DON'T forget that many bulbs also do quite well in woodland situations, and, provided you plant them out of the main rooting area of the hedge, plants such as Narcissus, snowdrop and winter aconite do quite well so long as they are mulched regularly and given water during particularly dry weather.

Your garden : Go up the wall; Smarten up your borders

While snowdrops (Galanthus) and winter aconite (Eranthis) hold a special place in my heart because they are the very first bulbs to bloom, the real show begins with crocus.

Plant crocus bulbs for early spring color in the garden

Please send cheques and postal orders made payable to Mr Fothergill's to People Winter Aconite Offer, Mr Fothergill's, Rookery Farm, Holbeach St Johns, Spalding, Lincs, PE12 8SG and clearly state your name and address.

Frozen butter; Gardening

For under trees try Anemone blanda, winter aconite (eranthis), Chionodoxa luciliae and trillium.

Beautiful bulbs as nature intended; THERE'S still time to plant your spring-flowering bulbs and if you want to perk up open grassland, you could naturalise it to create a riot of colour, as HANNAH STEPHENSON discovers

DELICATE FLOWER: Erythronium adds subtle colour WHITE DELIGHT: Snowdrops form a beautiful, natural carpet WINTER WARMER: Provide a bright start to the year with a splash of colour from winter aconite WHITE LIGHT: Crocuses are always popular

Brighten up with bulbs; There's still time to plant your spring-flowering bulbs - and if you want to perk up some open grassland you could try naturalising it to create a riot of colour, Hannah Stephenson discovers

PLANT corms of the yellow winter aconite for flowering from February ( in drifts for the best effect.

Chores of the week

In my garden, squirrels and chipmunks have left winter aconite and snowdrops alone while eating all of the crocus.