The Yellow Wolf s-Bane 



(ACONirUM LTCOCrUM) 



THIS plant is a species of Aconite, and a close relation of the 

 common Monk's-hood illustrated on the previous page. It 

 is common on the borders of woods and in bushy places 

 between 3000 and 7000 feet above the sea level. In 

 this species, which, like the common Monk's-hood, is visited 

 almost exclusively by humble-bees, the upper helmet-like 

 sepal which conceals the honey is especially long. It is 

 interesting to note that the humble-bees do not, in all cases, 

 obtain the honey in the way intended by the plant. A dark 

 spot is often to be seen near the tip of the helmet where a 

 humble-bee has nibbled through the flower leaf and obtained 

 access to the nectary direct. In this way the designs of the 

 plant for cross fertilisation may be frustrated, for where the 

 honey is obtained in this manner no pollen is carried from 

 flower to flower by the insect visitor. Aconitum Anthora, 

 which is rather like the above, has more finely divided leaves 

 and darker yellow flowers which are much less elongated 

 than those of the Wolf's-bane. The flowers, in fact, closely 

 resemble those of the common Monk's-hood except that 

 they are yellow instead of blue. Both plants are poisonous. 



