130 INTERESTING PLANTS OF ALPINE PASTURES 



The Alpine Monkshoods. 



The Alpine Monkshoods, genus Aconitum (natural 

 order Ranunculacese, the Buttercup family), are several 

 in number. We will notice two : a blue-flowered 

 species, Aconitum napellus, Linn., and the yellow 

 flowered, Aconitum lycoctonum, Linn. The flowers 

 are interesting from their peculiar construction. 

 There are five coloured sepals, one being much larger 

 than the rest, and fashioned in the form of a helmet. 

 The petals may be eight in number, but they are all 

 very small, except a pair which are covered in by the 

 helmet-like sepal. These are converted into long- 

 stalked honey-glands, of a peculiar form, with a large 

 nectary at the apex. The flowers are specialised for 

 cross-fertilisation through the agency of humble-bees, 

 other insects being unable to reach the nectaries 

 protected by the helmet-like sepal. Aconitum is not 

 known to occur in any region of the world from 

 which humble-bees are absent. Curiously enough, 

 these insects often rob the flowers of the honey by 

 biting through the helmet, instead of seeking the 

 nectar by the natural entrance to the flower. In 

 such cases, of course, the plant loses the chance of 

 being cross-pollinated. Sometimes every flower in 

 the inflorescence is thus mutilated. 



The tuberous roots, and also the leaves of the 

 Monkshoods, contain a very poisonous alkaloid, 

 known as aconitine. One-fiftieth part of a grain is 

 said to be a fatal dose. The alkaloid obtained from 



