Aconitum plicatum 'Monkshood'

[Ex. Krušné hory, 950m, Czech Republic]

Ranunculaceae: a perennial herb with erect stems to 30-150cm. Found on subalpine meadows, stream banks, and forest margins. The flowers are 2-3cm long violet helmets. Blooming from July-September. The leaves are petiolate, palmately divided. Native to the mountain areas of Central Europe, and a protected plant in the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany.

USES:

It is a poisonous plant. The symptoms of poisoning of this plant are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, bradycardia, arrhythmia and finally cardiac arrest and death.

In ancient medicine, roots were appropriately dried for the following medicinal properties: anti-inflammatory (inflammatory inflammatory), anti-rheumatic (attenuates pain due to joint inflammation), vermifuges (eliminates intestinal worms) and analgesics (attenuates generally pain).

GROWING INFORMATION:

Thrives in most soils, but prefers a moist calcareous soil in sun or semi-shade. Plants will only thrive in a sunny position if the soil remains moist throughout the growing season. Seed is best sown in the autumn, but the seed can be stratified and sown in spring but will then be slow to germinate. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter.

NOTE: I have found that Aconitum seeds will not germinate until they are exposed to temperatures below -7 °C. Also, I have found that GA3/Gibberellic acid helps.
 

HARVESTED: 2022*

 
APPROX. 50 SEEDS