2 ACONITE. 



vises to the height of three or four feet. The leaves are alter- 

 nate, palmated, and deeply divided into five elongated wedge- 

 shaped scgmeats, which are irregularly cut and toothed and fur- 

 rowed on their upper surface ; the lower leaves have long foot- 

 stalks, but the upper are nearly sessile ; the whole are dark 

 green above, paler beneath, smooth, and shining. The flowers 

 are arranged in a long cylindrical spike at the top of the stem ; 

 each flower is supported on a pedicel with two small bractege 

 at the base. The calyx resembles a corolla, being of a deep 

 violet colour : it consists of five unequal leaflets or sepals ; the 

 uppermost arched, helmet-shaped, concealing the petals; the late- 

 ral ones broad and nearly round ; the lower oblong, divaricating. 

 The two petals or nectaries stand on long incurved stalks, and 

 are concealed beneath the helmet ; each petal is furnished with 

 a hooked spur and an oblong bifid limb. The stamens are 

 numerous, converging, and support whitish anthers. The pis- 

 tils are generally three in number, each furnished with a simple 

 style and reflexed stigma. The capsules are usually three, 

 oval, smooth, containing numerous blacky angular, wrinkled 

 seeds. (Plate 1, fig. 2.) 



This plant can scarcely be considered a native of England, 

 but it was found on the banks of the river Teme, in Hereford- 

 shire, in great abundance, by Sir J. E. Smith. It was first culti- 

 vated in the English garden about the year 1596^ where it thrives 

 well in inoist and shady situations, flowering in June or July. 



It grows wild in several of the Alpine regions of Europe, viz. 

 in the mountains and hilly pastures of Germany, Switzerland, 

 Hungary, Spain, Italy, and France *. 



The etymology of the term Aconitiim f is rather doubtful. 

 Some have derived it from ctKOviTos, devoid of dust, in reference 

 to the rocky soil in which it grows, others from uhmv a javelin, 

 because the savage nations poisoned their darts with its juice ; 



* De CandoUe considers the species whicli lie has named A. panictilatum, 

 to be the one described by Storck ; differing from the above in its loose 

 cor^-mbose spike, pale bine flowers, more convex acuminate helmet, and 

 lateral sepals smooth within. 



f " Aconltum nascitur in nudis cautibus, quas Aconas nominant ; et ideo 

 Aconitum alicpii dixere, nullo juxta ne pulvere quidem nutriente. Hanc 

 aliqui rationem nominis attulere. Alii quoniam vis eadem in morte esset, 

 quae cotibus ad ferri ariem deterendam, statimque adraota velocitas sen- 

 tiretur."— P/j/jy. 



