Monkshood and wolfsbane are also known as

#Monkshood and wolfsbane are also known as full

вЂWolfsbaneвЂ™ isВ also known as вЂmonkshoodвЂ™, вЂaconiteвЂ™, вЂblue rocketвЂ™, вЂdevilвЂ™s helmetвЂ™ and вЂwomenвЂ™s baneвЂ™, among others and itВ is said to haveВ been used as a method of killing troublesome wolves, hence one of the plantвЂ™s common names.The scientific name of the wolfsbane is Aconitum and it is from the family Ranunculaceae, the family of buttercups.Wolfsbane is a genus of highly toxic perennial plants, found in the mountainous regions across Asia, Europe and North America.Although spooky season is over, the plant will offer protection from any vampires and werewolves who may still be among us.DonвЂ™t let wolfsbane be the bane of your life! Bees and butterflies, however, are immune to the toxins. They are best enjoyed from afar вЂ“ even gardeners must use gloves when caring for them. The risk of using too much outweighs potential benefit of the toxin.ДЄ few monkshood plants can be found in Stuyvesant Square Park. However, the plant is no longer used for medicine because of the slim margin in determining the correct dosage. It can be used to reduce fever, as a topical anesthetic, and to treat neuralgia. In Game of Thrones, one of Tywin LannisterвЂ™s commanders is assassinated by a dart, identified as being coated with wolfsbane.Дespite the toxicity of monkshood, the plant still has medicinal properties. In the Harry Potter series, Remus Lupin, a tormented werewolf, drinks a potion of wolfsbane carefully concocted to control his transformations, inspired by the use of the plant in the Middle Ages to treat lycanthropy and deter wolves. It is only when Mina discards the wolfsbane from her room that Count Dracula is able to approach her.

For example, the 1931 film Dracula began the trend of associating wolfsbane with protection from vampires. In addition to hunting, the poison was used for warfare, espionage, and protection, inspiring its inclusion in numerous facets of popular culture. In Greek myth, wolfsbane originated from the toxic slobber of a three-headed dog named Cerberus, the fearsome canine guardian to the gates of Hell. The Greek name lycoctonum, which translates literally to вЂњwolfsbane,вЂќ refers to the practice of coating arrows with the poison to kill wolves. In addition, the Aleuts of AlaskaвЂ™s Aleutian Islands used the toxin on their harpoons to hunt whales. The Minaro in Ladakh used the poison on their arrows to hunt ibex, while the Ainu in Japan used it to hunt bears. The name aconitum derives from the Greek word for dart or javelin, the tips of which were poisoned with the substance. Poisons from the plant were used to coat weapons. When ingested or absorbed into the skin, diarrhea, convulsions, ventricular arrhythmia, and other symptoms develop, eventually leading to death. The roots and tubers of monkshood are particularly toxic and contain aconitine and related alkaloids. Other common names for monkshood, such as aconitum and wolfsbane, stem from the plantsвЂ™ most popular trait: they are poisonous. The conical shape resembled the hoods worn by English monks.

The name monkshood is derived from the helmet-shaped petal distinguishing each flower, which is called a galea, also deriving its name from a Roman helmet. Once planted, they do not take well to transplantation. The plants are not invasive and are moderately difficult to grow. However, rare species of monkshood can have white, yellow, and even reddish pink flowers. The two- to ten-petaled flowers come in shades of blue and purple. The leaves of the plant are palmate, meaning they resemble hands with lobed вЂњfingersвЂќ that often have toothed edges and vary in color from light to dark green.

#Monkshood and wolfsbane are also known as full

They prosper in full sun to partial shade in temperate climates and grow to two to four feet tall and one to two feet wide. These herbaceous perennial plants are native to the mountainous parts of North America, Europe, and Asia, and grow in mountain meadows in moisture retentive but well-drained soils.

Monkshood, also known as aconitum, aconite, wolfsbane, and devilвЂ™s helmet, is a member of a genus of over 250 flowering plants in the Ranunculaceae family.