AG? ORD. XXVI. Muliisilique. aconiTUM NAPELLUS. 
than those towards the bottom of the stem; the superior pagina 
of the leaf is of a dark green colour, but the under pagina is 
whitish; the peduncles are generally unifloral, erect, and villous ; 
the flowers terminate the stalk, are without calyces, and grow ina 
long racemus or spike; each flower consists of five petals, which 
include two nectaries, the uppermost petal is arched over the 
lateral ones, so as to appear helmet-shaped, or hooded; they are 
all of a purplish or deep violet colour: the pistilla, (according to 
_ Jacquin) are three, four, and sometimes five. The Aconitum is 
a native of the mountainous and woody parts of Germany, France, 
and Switzerland; but since the time of Gerard, it has been cul- 
tivated for ornament in most of the flower-gardens in this country. 
‘The figure of this plant given by Stoerck, is supposed, by Haller 
and Bergius to be the Aconitum Cammarum of Linnzus: Murray, 
however, is of a different opinion; and upon comparing Stoerck’s 
Aconitum with the Cammarum and Napellus, as delineated by 
Jacquin, (Flor. Aust.) we have no hesitation in referring it to the 
latter. 
Every part of the fresh plant is strongly poisonous, but the 
root is unquestionably the most powerful, and when first chewed 
imparts a slight sensation of acrimony, but afterwards, an insensi- 
bility, or stupor at the apex of the tongue, and a pungent heat of 
the lips, gums, palate, and fauces, are perceived, followed with 
a general tremor and sensation of chilliness. Though the plant 
leses much of its power by drying, yet Stoerck observes that, 
when powdered and put upon the tongue, it excites a durable 
sense of heat, and sharp wandering * pains, but without redness or 
inflammation. The juice applied to a wound, seemed to affect the 
_ * In the Cammarum the top of the flower rises much higher, and forms a more 
‘acute angle; the flowers are of a fainter blue colour, and the racemus is always 
shorter than that of the Napellus. 
* Reinhold, béwater; describes the leaves of this plant, when dry, as almost 
insipid. Diss, de Aconit. Napello. 
