Aconitum lycoctonum

• Common Names
• Description
• Biology
• Taxonomy
• Similar Species
• More Info
• Further Reading
• Notes

Common Names

Description

Family Ranunculaceae

Herbs perennial or annual , sometimes subshrubs or herbaceous or woody vines . Leaves basal and cauline, alternate, rarely opposite or whorled , simple or variously compound , palmately nerved, rarely penninerved , with or without stipules. Inflorescence a simple or compound monochasium, dichasium, simple or compound raceme, or flowers solitary. Flowers bisexual , sometimes unisexual , actinomorphic , rarely zygomorphic, hypogynous. Sepals 3--6 or more, free , petaloid or sepaloid , imbricate or sometimes valvate in bud. Petals present or absent, 2--8 or more, free, usually with nectaries. Stamens numerous , rarely few, free; filaments linear or filiform ; anthers latrorse , introrse , or extrorse ; sometimes some sterile stamens becoming staminodes. Carpels numerous or few, rarely 1, free, rarely connate to various degrees ; ovary with 1 to many ovules. Fruit follicles or achenes, rarely capsules or berries . Seeds small, with abundant endosperm and minute embryo.

About 60 genera and 2500 species: worldwide, but richly represented in N temperate regions , particularly in E Asia; 38 genera (four endemic) and 921 species (604 endemic) in China.[1]

Genus Aconitum

Herbs, perennial , from tubers or elongate , fascicled roots . Leaves basal and cauline, proximal leaves petiolate , distal leaves sessile or nearly so; cauline leaves alternate. Leaf blade palmately divided into 3-7 segments, ultimate segments narrowly elliptic or lanceolate to linear , margins incised and toothed . Inflorescences terminal , sometimes also axillary , 1-32(-more) racemes or panicles, to 28 cm; bracts leaflike, not forming involucre. Flowers bisexual , bilaterally symmetric ; sepals not persistent in fruit; lower sepals (pendents) 2, plane , 6-20 mm; lateral sepals 2, round-reniform; upper sepal (hood ) 1, saccate , arched, crescent-shaped or hemispheric to rounded-conic or tall and cylindric , usually beaked , 10-50 mm; petals 2, distinct , bearing near apex a capitate to coiled spur, concealed in hood, long-clawed; nectary present, on spur; stamens 25-50; filaments with base expanded; staminodes absent between stamens and pistils; pistils 3(-5), simple ; ovules 10-20 per pistil; style present. Fruits follicles, aggregate, sessile, oblong , sides prominently transversely veined; beak terminal, straight, 2-3 mm. Seeds deltoid, usually with small, transverse , membranous lamellae. x =8.

Species ca. 100: circumboreal , southward into n Mexico and n Africa.

The greatest concentration of species of Aconitum is in Asia, with a smaller group in Europe.

Aconitum is phylogenetically most closely related to Delphinium Linnaeus as evidenced by similarities in karyotype , production of diterpene alkaloids, and similarities in floral morphology. Distinctive and unique floral morphology clearly distinguishes Aconitum from all other genera.

The aconites have been of interest since ancient times because they contain diterpene alkaloids that range from relatively nontoxic to deadly poisonous. In various parts of the world they have been used medicinally and as a source of poisons throughout history (D. E. Brink 1982). Use of Aconitum alkaloids in modern medicine was largely discontinued by the late 1930s and early 1940s (E. E. Swanson et al. 1938; H. C. Wood and A. Osol 1943; A. Osol et al. 1960).

Aconitum is a circumboreal arctic and alpine genus that extends into lower latitudes where there is suitable mesic habitat at high elevations along the north-south chains of mountains in eastern and western North America, and also in outlying, scattered , mesic, interglacial refugia , occasionally at low elevations.

The genus Aconitum worldwide is notorious for complex patterns of morphologic intergradation that blur the lines between taxa. Aconites from different regions may be morphologically distinct but connected by a series of intermediate races. Aconitum columbianum exemplifies this in North America, and A. delphiniifolium may extend this complex of variation into Asia. Intergradation between A. columbianum and A. delphiniifolium should be more fully investigated.

Cultivated aconites with origins outside North America sometimes persist in old gardens or are encountered as garden escapes , especially in eastern Canada (New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec). These may include Aconitum lycoctonum Linnaeus, A. napellus Linnaeus, A. variegatum Linnaeus, and A. bicolor Schultes. Aconitum lycoctonum is similar to A. reclinatum of the southeastern United States in having the tall, conic-cylindric hood that is characterisitc of species in Aconitum sect. Lycoctonum de Candolle. Aconitum reclinatum has white flowers whereas A. lycoctonum has lilac-purple flowers.

A more complete treatment of the cultivated aconites likely to be encountered in North America can be found in H. J. Scoggan (1978-1979, part 3, pp. 718-720) and P. A. Munz (1945).[2]

Physical Description

Habitat

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 2,500 meters (0 to 8,202 feet).[3]

Biology

Growth

Culture: Space 15-18" apart.

Soil: Minimum pH: 5.6 • Maximum pH: 7.8

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Sun to Partial Shade.

Temperature: Cold Hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b. (map)

Taxonomy

Unambiguous Synonyms

1. Aconitum Dc. Sect. Lycoctonum
2. Aconitum L.

Notes

Publishing author : Rchb. Publication : Uebers. Acon. 71 Name Status: Accepted Name . Latest taxonomic scrutiny: 17-Oct-2001

Similar Species

Members of the genus Aconitum

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 914 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus. Here are just 100 of them:

A. abbreviatum · A. abietetorum · A. acaule · A. achranthum · A. ackermannii · A. A. anthora 'Yellow Monkshood' · A. acuminatum · A. acutiusculum · A. acutum · A. adenocarpum · A. adriaticum · A. aegophonum · A. aestivalis · A. aff. pendulum · A. aff. pyramidale Napellus Group · A. aggregatifolium · A. aizuense · A. ajanense · A. alatavicum · A. alatum · A. albicans · A. albidum · A. albo-violaceum · A. alboflavidum · A. alboviolaceum (White Monks Hood) · A. alboviolaceum var. albiflorum · A. album · A. algoviense · A. alienum · A. alpino-nepalense · A. alpinum · A. altaicum · A. altigaleatum · A. altissimum · A. altissimum subsp. penninum · A. ambiguum · A. amoenum · A. amplexicaule · A. ampliflorum · A. amurense · A. anglicum · A. angulatum · A. angusticassidatum · A. angustifolium · A. angustisegmentum · A. angustius · A. anthora (Yellow Monkshood) · A. anthora subsp. confertiflorum · A. anthoroideum · A. anthorum · A. apetalum · A. apoiense · A. aquilonare · A. arctophonum · A. arcuatum · A. arendsii · A. arizonicum · A. artemisiifolium · A. assamicum · A. atees · A. atlanticum · A. atrocyaneum · A. atropurpureum · A. atrox · A. australe · A. austriacum · A. austro-koreense · A. austrokoreense · A. austroyunnanense (Monkshood) · A. autumnale · A. axilliflorum · A. azumiense · A. baburinii · A. baicalense · A. bailangense · A. bakeri · A. balangrense · A. balcanicum · A. balfourii · A. barbatum · A. barbatum subsp. pekinense · A. bartletii · A. bartlettii · A. baumgarteni · A. baumgartenianum · A. bavaricum · A. bavaricum lusenense · A. beckianum · A. benzilanense · A. bernhardianum · A. besserianum · A. bhedingense · A. bhutanicum · A. bicolor (Twocolor Monkshood) · A. biflorum · A. birobidshanicum · A. bisma · A. 'Blue Lagoon' · A. 'Blue Opal' · A. 'Blue Sceptre'

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Further Reading

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• Anales de la Sociedad Española de Historia Natural. Madrid: La Sociedad, ENG url p. 279.
• Annalen der Allgemeinen Schweizerischen Gesellschaft fur die Gesammten Naturwissenschaften. Bern. url p. 92.
• Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien. Wien, Naturhistorisches Museum [etc.] GER url p. 285, p. 70.
• Annales de la Société entomologique de France. Paris: La Société, FRE url p. 352.
• Annuaire de l'Institut des Provinces et des Congrès Scientifiques. Paris. url p. 542, p. 547.
• Archiv für Naturgeschichte. Berlin: Nicolai, 1835- GER url p. 231.
• Archives de zoologie expérimentale et générale. Paris, Centre national de la recherche scientifique [etc.] FRE url p. 30.
• Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Flora der Adulagebirgsgruppe / von Emil Steiger. Basel: E. Birkhäuser, 1906. GER url p. 288.
• Biblioteca Italiana. Milan. url p. 339.
• Botanisches Taschenbuch fr die Anfñger dieser Wissenschaft und der Apothekerkunst. Regensburg: Bey Montags Erben, [1790-1804] GER url p. 220.
• Botanisches Zentralblatt; referierendes Organ für das Gesamtgebiet der Botanik. Jena [etc.]G. Fischer [etc.] GER url p. 355, p. 362, p. 527.
• Bulletin de gographie botanique. Le Mans: Au sige de la Socit, 1911-1919. FRE url p. 79.
• Bulletin de la Société royale de botanique de Belgique. [Bruxelles]: La Société, [1866]-1989. FRE url p. 157, p. 159, p. 322, p. 415, p. 76.
• Bulletin de la Société zoologique de France. Paris: La Société, FRE url p. 88.
• Bulletins de la Société royale de botanique de Belgique. [Bruxelles]: La Société, [1862-1866] FRE url p. 138, p. 197, p. 400.
• Bullettino. Florence. ITA url p. 105.
• Conspectus floræ Africæ, ou Énumération des plantes d'Afrique, par Th. Durand et Hans Schinz Bruxelles, Jardin botanique de l'état; [etc., etc.]1895-98. FRE url p. 31.
• Die Flora von Kärnten. Klagenfurt, Kleinmayr, 1853. GER url p. 126.
• Die Lepidopteren der Schweiz, von Prof. Dr. Heinrich Frey. Leipzig, W. Engelmann, 1880. GER url p. 171.
• Die Pflanzen und Raupen Deutschlands: Versuch einer lepidopterologischen Botanik / von O. Wilde. Berlin: E.S. Mittler, 1860-1861. GER url p. 328.
• Dr. L. Rabenhorst's Kryptogamen-Flora von Deutschland, Oesterreich und der Schweiz Leipzig: E. Kummer, 1884-1966. GER url p. 807.
• Entomological news, and proceedings of the Entomological Section of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Philadelphia[Entomological Rooms of the Academy of Natural Sciences] ENG url p. 459.
• Flora Petropolitana. Sistens plantas in Gubernio Petropolitano sponte crescentes, tam eas quae olim in Flora Ingrica Krascheninnikovii a Gortero enumeratae sunt, quam novas post annum 1764 hucuque a variis botanicis Petro curante Gregorio Sobolewskj. Petropoli, Typis Collegii Imperialis Medici, 1799. LAT url p. 126.
• Flora der gefürsteten Grafshaft Tirol, des Landes Vorarlberg und des Fürstenthumes Liechtenstein. Nach eigenen und fremden Beobachtungen, Sammlungen und den Litteraturquellen bearb. von K.W. v. Dalla Torre und Ludwig Grafen von Sarnthein. Innsbruck, Verlag der Wagner'-schen Universitäts-Buchhandlung, 1900-1913. GER url p. 40, p. 510.
• Flora von Nieder-Österreich. Handbuch zur Bestimmung sämmtlicher in diesem Kronlande und den angrenzenden Gebieten wildwachsenden, häufig gebauten und verwildert vorkommenden Samenpflanzen und Führer zu weiteren botanischen Forsc Wein, C. Gerold, 1890-93. GER url p. 403.
• Flora von Niederösterreich. Zum Gebrauche auf Excursionen und zum Selbstunterricht bearbeitet von Eugen von Halácsy. Prag, F. Tempsky, 1896. GER url p. 38.
• Fr. Berge's Schmetterlingsbuch nach dem gegenwärtigen Stande der Lepidopterologie neu bearb. und hrsg. von Professor Dr. H. Rebel Stuttgart, E. Schweizerbart, 1910. GER url p. 278.
• Guide du botaniste dans le canton de Fribourg: contribution à l'étude de la flore suisse / par Michel Cottet et François Castella. Fribourg: Librairie de l'Université, 1891. FRE url p. 10.
• Guide du botaniste en Belgique: (plantes vivantes et fossiles) / par François Crépin. Bruxelles: G. Mayolez, 1878. FRE url p. 381.
• Handwörterbuch der naturwissenschaften / hrsg. von prof. dr. E. Korschelt (zoologie) prof. dr. G. Linck (mineralogie und geologie) prof. dr. F. Oltmanns (botanik) prof. dr. K. Schaum (chemie) prof. dr. H. Th. Simon (physi Jena: G. Fischer, 1912-1915. GER url p. 888.
• Hoffmann-Dennert botanischer Bilderatlas, nach dem naturlichen Pflanzensystem Suttgart, Schweizerbart, 1911. GER url p. 156.
• Horticulture. Boston, Mass.: Horticulture Pub. Co., c1904- ENG url p. 391.
• Jahresbericht über die Fortschritte auf dem Gesamtgebiete der Agrikultur-Chemie. Berlin: Julius Springer, 1866-1919. GER url p. 208, p. 328.
• Journal de botanique. Paris, Bureau de journaux. FRE url p. 231.
• Journal of the proceedings of the Linnean Society. London. url p. 64.
• Just's botanischer jahresbericht. Systematisch geordnetes repertorium der botanischen literatur aller länder. Berlin, Gebr. Borntraeger, 1874-98; GER url p. 1010, p. 1229, p. 1406, p. 227, p. 53, p. 942, p. 96.
• Kryptogamenflora für Anfänger: eine Einführung in das Studium der blütenlosen Gewächse für Studierende und Liebhaber / hrsg. von Gustav Lindau. Berlin: Springer, [1917?] GER url p. 38.
• La Feuille des jeunes naturalistes. Paris: A. Dollfus, 1870-1914. FRE url p. 131, p. 90, p. 95.
• Magazine of natural history and journal of zoology, botany, mineralogy, geology and meteorology London. url p. 170.
• Nederlandsch kruidkundig archief. Leyden: S. en J. Luchtmans, 1846-1951. DUT url p. 330.
• Novi Commentarii Academiae Scientiarum Instituti Bononiensis. url p. 25.
• Pflanzenmikrochemie: ein Hilfsbuch beim mikrochemischen Studium pflanzlicher Objekte / von Dr. O. Tunmann. Berlin: Gebrüder Borntraeger, 1913. GER url p. 286.
• Prodrome de la flore belge / É. de Wildeman et Th. Durand. Bruxelles: A. Castaigne, 1898-1907. FRE url p. 32.
• Prodromus der Flora von Böhmen. Enthaltend die Beschreibungen und Verbreitungsangaben der wildwachsenden und im Freien kultivirten Gefässpflanzen des Königreiches Von Dr. Ladislav Celakovský. Hrsg. von dem Comité für die naturwissenschaftliche Durchfo Prag, Selbstverlag des Comité's1867-81. GER url p. 854.
• Prof. Dr. Thom's Flora von Deutschland, sterreich und der Schweiz, in Wort und Bild, fr Schule und Haus; mit Tafeln von Walter Mller. Gera-Untermhaus: F.E. Khler, 1886-1934. GER url p. 169.
• Reliquiae Formánekianae: enumeratio critica plantarum vascularium, quas itineribus in Haemo Peninsula et Asia Minore (Bithynia) factis collegit Dr. Ed. Formánek / scripsit C. Vandas. Brunae: Comitiorum Marchionatus Moraviae, 1909. LAT url p. 12.
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• Schilderung der deutschen Pflanzenfamilien: vom botanisch- descriptiven und physiologisch-chemischen Standpunkte / von Hermann Hoffmann. Giessen: G.F. Hener's Verlag, 1846. GER url p. 178.
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• Brink, D. E. 1982. Tuberous Aconitum (Ranunculaceae) of the continental United States: Morphological variation, taxonomy and disjunction. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 109: 13-23.
• Brink, D. E., J. A. Woods, and K. R. Stern. 1994. Bulbiferous Aconitum (Ranunculaceae) of the western United States. Sida 16: 9-15. Hardin, J. W. 1964. Variation in Aconitum of eastern United States. Brittonia 16: 80-94.
• Kadota, Y. 1987. A Revision of Aconitum subgenus Aconitum (Ranunculaceae) of East Asia. Utsunomiya. Munz, P. A. 1945. The cultivated aconites. Gentes Herb. 6: 462-505.
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Notes

Contributors

• Bisby, F.A., Y.R. Roskov, M.A. Ruggiero, T.M. Orrell, L.E. Paglinawan, P.W. Brewer, N. Bailly, J. van Hertum, eds (2007). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2007 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2007. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed April 1, 2007.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed November 29, 2007. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 18 providers.

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 29, 2007:

• Bundesamt für Naturschutz / Zentralstelle für Phytodiversität Deutschland, Bundesamt fuer Naturschutz / Zentralstelle fuer Phytodiversitaet Deutschland
• Jyväskylä University Museum - The Section of Natural Sciences, Vascular plant collection of Jyvaskyla University Museum
• Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Vascular Plant Herbarium, Oslo
• Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Vascular Plants, Field notes, Oslo
• The New York Botanical Garden, Vascular Plant Type Specimens
• The Swedish Museum of Natural History
• , Herbarium of Oskarshamn
• The Swedish Museum of Natural History
• , Plants

Identifiers

• Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 2671834
• Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: ITS-508079
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 14155216
• Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:20002836-1
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 451382

Footnotes

1. Wencai Wang, Dezhi Fu, Liang-Qian Li, Bruce Bartholomew, Anthony R. Brach, Bryan E. Dutton, Michael G. Gilbert, Yuichi Kadota, Orbélia R. Robinson, Michio Tamura, Michael J. Warnock, Guanghua Zhu & Svetlana N. Ziman "Ranunculaceae". in Flora of China Vol. 6 Page 133. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
2. D.E. Brink & J.A. Woods "Aconitum". in Flora of North America Vol. 3. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
3. Mean = 479.590 meters (1,573.458 feet), Standard Deviation = 322.160 based on 1,731 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]

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