ACONITE. 



out numerous fibres. The stem is erect, simple, smooth, and 

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

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

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

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

 stalks, but the u^per 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, 

 they appear in June ; each flower is supported on a pedicel with 

 two small bracteae. The calyx resembles a corolla, being of a 

 deep violet colour : it consists of five imequal leaflets : the up- 

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

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

 The two upper petals or nectaries are curved and concealed be- 

 neath the helmet ; each petal is furnished with a hooked spur 

 and an oblong bifid limb. The stamens are numerous, con- 

 verging, and support whitish anthers. The pistils are generally 

 three in number, each furnished with a simple style and re- 

 flexed stigma. Capsules three to five, oval, smooth, containing 

 numerous black, angular, wrinkled seeds. (Plate I., fig. 2.) 



This noble plant cannot be considered a native of England, 

 but it has been found growing on the banks of the river Teme, 

 in Herefordshire, in great abundance, by Sir J. E, Smith. It 

 was introduced to the English garden about the year 1596, 

 where it thrives well in moist and shady situations. " The plant 

 is usually propagated by divisions of the roots, as when raised 

 from seed it rarely flowers before the third year." * The 

 Monk's-hood 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 Aconitunrf is rather doubtful. 

 Some have derived it from uxovtro;, devoid of dust, in reference 

 to the rocky soil in which it grows, others from a-^uv, a javelin, 

 because the savage nations poisoned their darts with its juice ; 



* Miller. 



f "Aconitum nasciturin nudis cautibus, quas Aconas nominant ; et ideo 

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

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

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

 tiretur."— y-'/Jny. 



