Aconitum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Monkshood |
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Aconitum
L., 1753
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Aconitum, also known as monkshood or wolfsbane, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the buttercup family, which is called Ranunculaceae. There are more than 250 different kinds, or species, of Aconitum plants. These plants are known for their unique flower shapes and are often found in mountainous areas.
Contents
What is Monkshood?
Monkshood plants are famous for their tall stems and beautiful, often blue or purple, flowers. The flowers have a special shape that looks a bit like a monk's hood, which is how they got their common name. They can also be called wolfsbane because people once believed they could protect against wolves or were used in old stories about them.
Where Does Monkshood Grow?
These plants usually grow in cool, damp places. You can find them in mountain meadows, forests, and along streams in many parts of the world. They are common in the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe, Asia, and North America. Monkshood likes soil that is wet but also drains well.
What Do Monkshood Flowers Look Like?
The flowers of monkshood plants are very interesting. They often grow in tall spikes. Each flower has a large, helmet-shaped petal at the top, which is the "hood" part. This hood covers the other parts of the flower. The colors are usually deep blue, purple, or sometimes white or yellow. Bees and other insects are attracted to these flowers.
Important: Monkshood is Poisonous!
It is very important to know that all parts of the monkshood plant are very poisonous. This means you should never touch it without gloves, and definitely never eat any part of it. Even a small amount can be dangerous. Because it is so poisonous, it's best to admire these beautiful plants from a distance and never pick them. If you ever see a monkshood plant, remember to be careful and tell an adult.
Images for kids
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Northern blue monkshood (A. noveboracense)
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Dissected flower of Aconitum vulparia, showing the nectaries
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Aconitum delphinifolium growing in its natural habitat. The plant thrives in wet soil with good drainage, amongst fireweed, false hellebore, yarrow, alpine rice, alpine foxtail, nootka lupine, alpine bistort, devil's club, and cow parsnip in the rocky, tundra-like, mountainous terrain of Turnagain Pass, Alaska.
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Monkshood, Aconitum napellus
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Plant as used in Chinese-style herbology (in Japanese) (crude medicine)
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Subgenera of Aconitum and related taxa
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Aconitum napellus
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Trailing white monkshood (A. reclinatum)
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Southern blue monkshood (A. uncinatum)
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Wild Alaskan monkshood (A. delphinifolium) is a flowering species that belongs to the family Ranunculaceae. The picture was taken in Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
See also
In Spanish: Acónito para niños
