140 FLORA HISTORICA. 



as to know its flower, leaf, and root ; and we 

 farther entreat them, when they see this plant 

 growing in the gardens of cottagers, that they 

 would make its dangerous properties known. 



We have already observed, by a translation, 

 these lines from Ovid, 



" Quse quia iiascuntur dura vivacia caute, 

 Agrestes Aconita vocant :" 



that the Aconitum was supposed to derive its 

 name from growing on rocks almost destitute of 

 soil. Theophrastus derives it, and with more 

 apparent reason from Axovig, Acone, a city of 

 Bithynia, near which place it is stated to have 

 grown in great abundance. Some etymologists 

 derive the name from Axwu, 'Axr^, Dart, because 

 the barbarians used the plant to poison their 

 darts ; others think it is from *Axoj//^o//,ai, to ac- 

 celerate, because it hastens death. 



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

 antiquity, being the same as that of the Anglo- 

 Saxon. It is called Monk'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 Miinch Cappen, 

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

 flower by some, who consider it to resemble a 

 helmet. The French name of this dangerous 



