Aconitum variegatum 

'Manchurian monkshood'

[Ex. Strážovské vrchy 720 m., Slovakia]

Ranunculaceae: an herbaceous perennial to 1m. Found on hilly, mountainous and subalpine. The flowers are the shape of a helmet, colour of the perianzio is blue, violet or even whitish with nuances (usually the shades are clearer and placed in the apical part of the sepals). Flower size: 25-35mm. The dark-green leaves are alternate. They are palmately lobed, with a diameter of 5-20 cm. The roots are secondary to round rhizome. They regenerate during flowering. Native to the mountain regions of the Caucasus and the whole of Europe.

USES:

It is a poisonous plant. Its flowers are among the most toxic of Italian spontaneous flora. The symptoms of poisoning of this plant are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, 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.

HARVESTED: 2023*
 

APPROX. 40 SEEDS