Monkshood or Wolfsbane - Toxic

6 October

Monkshood or Wolfsbane - Possibly Aconitum uncinatum

Monkshood is one of some 250 members of the genus Aconitum, all of which sport considerable amounts of the toxic aconitine alkaloid in all parts, but especially in their roots and tubers. Neurotoxins which cause death from respiratory paralysis or heart failure at quite low dose levels. Sadly, despite the superb colour, probably not a plant to grow in your garden if children are likely to play around them, or if you have pets that like to dig or gnaw on plants. None of that is ever going to be a problem in our well fenced garden, so we welcome their presence.

A tall member of the buttercup family and distantly related to delphiniums. As you will see from the close images of the flower (below) the name ‘Monkshood’ is entirely apposite. A really beautiful shade of blue.

Vampires

In the 1931 film Dracula starring Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula, reference is made to wolf’s bane. Towards the end of the film, “Van Helsing holds up a sprig of wolf’s bane”, and educates the nurse protecting Mina from Count Dracula to place sprigs of wolf’s bane around Mina’s neck for protection, instructing that wolf’s bane is used by those dwelling there to protect themselves against vampires