MONK'S-IIOOD. 127 



Thcophrastus derives it, and with more apparent 

 reason, from Axovjr, Acone^ a city of Jjitliynia, near 

 wliich place it Is stated to have grown in great abun- 

 dance. Some etymologists derive the name from 

 Akc'c^v, Wy.7), Dart, because the barbarians used the 

 plant to poison their darts ; others think it is from 

 'Axov/^o/txai, to accelerate, because it hastens death. 



The English name of Wolf's-bane is of great 

 antiquity, being the same as that of the Anglo- 

 Saxon. It is called ]\Ionk's-hood, from the upper 

 petal of the flower, which bends over the parts of 

 fructification in the shape of the hood worn by 

 monks. The Germans call it Munch Cappen, 

 Monk's cap or hood. It is also called Helmet- 

 flower by some, who consider it to resemble a hel- 

 met. The French name of this dangerous plant is 

 Aconiff and the Italian Aconito, and most of the 

 other European languages also derive it from the 

 Latin. 



We make it the emblem of knight-errantry, 

 because it rears its threatening and gloomy helmet 

 as if to protect the gay favourites of Flora. 



The common Monk's-hood, Aconifnm Napellus, 

 ■which elevates its dingy blue helmet flowers on such 

 exalted spikes from the month of May to the end 

 of July, is a native of Germany, and some other 

 parts of Europe. The white-flowered, Aconitum 

 Album, is from the Levant, and the yellow species. 



