RANUNCULACEyE 



Aconitum 



"Eng.: Monkshood; T^r.: Aconit, Char de Venus; Ger.i Eisenhut. 



FJower with irregular calyx; 5 petaloid sepals, the dor- 

 sal erect and bent over into the shape of a Phrygian cap 

 which covers the corolla; petals very irregular, 2-6 in 

 number, the two upper, which form rich nectaries of 

 honey, suggesting two tritons yoked to a car. 



A. napellus* (PI. VIII). Stem simple, erect, sometimes 

 branched towards the summit; leaves palmate, smooth, 

 dark green; flowers indigo-violet blue, in close, long and 

 upright racemes. June-October. Rocky and bushy pas- 

 tures of the Alps and Jura. 



Jl. paniculatum differs in the fully branched character of 

 the stem, in deeply toothed leaves and hooded crescent- 

 shaped flowers in short racemes gathered into a panicle. 

 August-September. Rocky and shady parts of the Alps ; 

 i 200-2000 m. 



Jl. Lycoctonum (PJ. IX). A tall, stout plant with spread- 

 ing branches; leaves palmate, 5-j-lobate; flowers, of 

 which the hood is lengthened and slightly constricted at 

 the middle, ochreous-yellow, in terminal racemes. July- 

 August. Woody mountains districts. 



Jl. anthora. Distinguished by a shorter, stiffer and more 

 erect stem, with the leaves finely divided into thin, ligulate 

 segments; by larger flowers of greenish-yellow in one 

 close raceme or several racemes forming a compact panicle. 

 August-October. Stony place pastures of the southern 

 Jura; 900-1400 m. 



Culture: all the aconites succeed in a cool soil, par- 

 tially or wholly shaded; the variety anthora alone requires 

 sun. 



