View source for Aconitum

{{Treatment/ID
|accepted_name=Aconitum
|accepted_authority=Linnaeus
|publications={{Treatment/Publication
|title=Sp. Pl.
|place=1: 532. 175
}}, {{Treatment/Publication
|title=Gen. Pl. ed.
|place=5, 236. 1754
|year=1754
}}
|common_names=Monkshood;aconite;wolfsbane;aconit
|basionyms=
|synonyms=
|hierarchy=Ranunculaceae;Aconitum
|hierarchy_nav=<div class="higher-taxa"><div class="higher-taxon"><small>family</small>[[Ranunculaceae]]</div><div class="higher-taxon"><small>genus</small>[[Aconitum]]</div></div>
|etymology=according to Pliny, the name "aconite" is taken from the ancient Black Sea port Aconis
|volume=Volume 3
|mention_page=
|treatment_page=
}}<!--

--><span class="statement" id="st-d0_s0" data-properties="whole_organism duration;whole_organism growth form;root shape;root architecture or arrangement"><b>Herbs,</b> perennial, from tubers or elongate, fascicled roots.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s1" data-properties="leaf position;leaf position;proximal leaf architecture;distal leaf architecture;distal leaf architecture"><b>Leaves </b>basal and cauline, proximal leaves petiolate, distal leaves sessile or nearly so;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s2" data-properties="cauline leaf arrangement">cauline leaves alternate.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s3" data-properties="leaf-blade shape;segment quantity;ultimate segment shape;margin shape;margin shape"><b>Leaf-</b>blade palmately divided into 3-7 segments, ultimate segments narrowly elliptic or lanceolate to linear, margins incised and toothed.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s4" data-properties="inflorescence position or structure subtype;inflorescence position;inflorescence quantity;inflorescence some measurement"><b>Inflorescences </b>terminal, sometimes also axillary, 1-32 (-more) racemes or panicles, to 28 cm;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s5" data-properties="bract architecture or shape">bracts leaflike, not forming involucre.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s6" data-properties="flower reproduction;flower architecture or shape"><b>Flowers </b>bisexual, bilaterally symmetric;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s7" data-properties="sepal duration">sepals not persistent in fruit;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s8" data-properties="lower sepal quantity;lower sepal shape;lower sepal some measurement">lower sepals (pendents) 2, plane, 6-20 mm;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s9" data-properties="lateral sepal quantity;lateral sepal shape">lateral sepals 2, round-reniform;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s10" data-properties="upper sepal quantity;upper sepal shape;upper sepal shape;upper sepal shape;upper sepal height;upper sepal shape;upper sepal architecture or shape;upper sepal some measurement">upper sepal (hood) 1, saccate, arched, crescent-shaped or hemispheric to rounded-conic or tall and cylindric, usually beaked, 10-50 mm;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s11" data-properties="petal quantity;petal fusion;petal architecture;petal prominence;petal shape">petals 2, distinct, bearing near apex a capitate to coiled spur, concealed in hood, long-clawed;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s12" data-properties="nectary presence">nectary present, on spur;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s13" data-properties="stamen quantity">stamens 25-50;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s14" data-properties="base size">filaments with base expanded;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s15" data-properties="staminode presence">staminodes absent between stamens and pistils;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s16" data-properties="pistil atypical quantity;pistil quantity;pistil architecture">pistils 3 (-5), simple;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s17" data-properties="ovule quantity">ovules 10-20 per pistil;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s18" data-properties="style presence">style present.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s19" data-properties="fruits follicle architecture;fruits follicle architecture;fruits follicle shape;side architecture"><b>Fruits </b>follicles, aggregate, sessile, oblong, sides prominently transversely veined;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s20" data-properties="beak position or structure subtype;beak course;beak some measurement">beak terminal, straight, 2-3 mm.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s21" data-properties="lamella size;lamella dehiscence or orientation;lamella texture"><b>Seeds </b>deltoid, usually with small, transverse, membranous lamellae.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s22" data-properties="seed shape;x chromosome quantity">x=8.</span><!--

-->{{Treatment/Body
|distribution=Circumboreal;southward into n Mexico and n Africa
|discussion=<p>Species ca. 100 (5 in the flora).</p><!--
--><p>The greatest concentration of species of Aconitum is in Asia, with a smaller group in Europe.</p><!--
--><p>Aconitum is phylogenetically most closely related to Delphinium Linnaeus as evidenced by similarities in karyotype, production of diterpene alkaloids, and similarities in floral morphology. Distinctive and unique floral morphology clearly distinguishes Aconitum from all other genera.</p><!--
--><p>The aconites have been of interest since ancient times because they contain diterpene alkaloids that range from relatively nontoxic to deadly poisonous. In various parts of the world they have been used medicinally and as a source of poisons throughout history (D. E. Brink 1982). Use of Aconitum alkaloids in modern medicine was largely discontinued by the late 1930s and early 1940s (E. E. Swanson et al. 1938; H. C. Wood and A. Osol 1943; A. Osol et al. 1960).</p><!--
--><p>Aconitum is a circumboreal arctic and alpine genus that extends into lower latitudes where there is suitable mesic habitat at high elevations along the north-south chains of mountains in eastern and western North America, and also in outlying, scattered, mesic, interglacial refugia, occasionally at low elevations.</p><!--
--><p>The genus Aconitum worldwide is notorious for complex patterns of morphologic intergradation that blur the lines between taxa. Aconites from different regions may be morphologically distinct but connected by a series of intermediate races. Aconitum columbianum exemplifies this in North America, and A. delphiniifolium may extend this complex of variation into Asia. Intergradation between A. columbianum and A. delphiniifolium should be more fully investigated.</p><!--
--><p>Cultivated aconites with origins outside North America sometimes persist in old gardens or are encountered as garden escapes, especially in eastern Canada (New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec). These may include Aconitum lycoctonum Linnaeus, A. napellus Linnaeus, A. variegatum Linnaeus, and A.bicolor Schultes. Aconitum lycoctonum is similar to A. reclinatum of the southeastern United States in having the tall, conic-cylindric hood that is characterisitc of species in Aconitum sect. Lycoctonum de Candolle. Aconitum reclinatum has white flowers whereas A. lycoctonum has lilac-purple flowers.</p><!--
--><p>Aconitum napellus and A. variegatum are European introductions with leaves divided to the base as in A. delphiniifolium, which is native to Canada and Alaska. The introduced species have taller hoods and relatively short-petiolate leaves compared to A. delphiniifolium; in A. delphiniifolium petioles are longer, i.e., mostly as long as blades. Aconitum napellus has smooth seeds that lack the undulating membranous lamellae present in A. delpinifolium and A. variegatum.</p><!--
--><p>Aconitum bicolor is a reputed hybrid between A. napellus and A. variegatum, having leaves like the former and flowers similar to the latter. It is always sterile; seeds are not viable. Flowers of A. bicolor are frequently white with purple margins.</p><!--
--><p>A more complete treatment of the cultivated aconites likely to be encountered in North America can be found in H. J. Scoggan (1978-1979, part 3, pp. 718-720) and P. A. Munz (1945).</p>
|tables=
|references=
}}<!--

--><div class="treatment-key">
==Key==
<div class="treatment-key-group">
  
{| class="wikitable fna-keytable"
|-id=key-0-1
|1
|Aerial stem arising from elongate, fascicled roots; hoods very tall, conic or nearly cylindric, flowers white to cream colored; e United States.
|[[Aconitum reclinatum|Aconitum reclinatum]]
|-id=key-0-1
|1
|Aerial stem arising from tuber; hoods low, conic-hemispheric to crescent-shaped, flowers commonly blue to purple, occasionally white or yellowish; w Canada, e,w United States (including Alaska).
|[[#key-0-2| > 2]]
|-id=key-0-2
|2
|Cauline leaf blades deeply divided to very base or with at most 2(–4) mm tissue between base and deepest sinus; hood low, crescent-shaped to conic-hemispheric; w Canada, Alaska.
|[[Aconitum delphiniifolium|Aconitum delphiniifolium]]
|-id=key-0-2
|2
|Cauline leaf blades usually not divided to the very base, usually more than 2 mm between base and deepest sinus; hood conic-hemispheric, occasionally crescent-shaped; widespread.
|[[#key-0-3| > 3]]
|-id=key-0-3
|3
|Tuber distally bulblike; terminal inflorescence often contracted, capitate; Alaska (Alaska Peninsula, and Aleutian Islands).
|[[Aconitum maximum|Aconitum maximum]]
|-id=key-0-3
|3
|Tuber distally not obviously bulblike; inflorescence elongate, not capitate; sw Canada, United States except Alaska.
|[[#key-0-4| > 4]]
|-id=key-0-4
|4
|Parent and daughter tubers separated by connecting rhizome 5–30 mm; eUnited States excluding Iowa, New York, and Wisconsin.
|[[Aconitum uncinatum|Aconitum uncinatum]]
|-id=key-0-4
|4
|Parent and daughter tubers contiguous or nearly so; sw Canada, w United States, and Iowa, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
|[[Aconitum columbianum|Aconitum columbianum]]
|}
</div></div><!--

-->{{#Taxon:
name=Aconitum
|author=D. E. Brink;J. A. Woods
|authority=Linnaeus
|rank=genus
|parent rank=family
|synonyms=
|basionyms=
|family=Ranunculaceae
|distribution=Circumboreal;southward into n Mexico and n Africa
|reference=None
|publication title=Sp. Pl.;Gen. Pl. ed.
|publication year=;1754
|special status=
|source xml=https://bibilujan@bitbucket.org/aafc-mbb/fna-fine-grained-xml.git/src/84153f6d59a0a91d69695978a64cee7560374f8e/V3/V3_890.xml
|genus=Aconitum
|base size=expanded
|beak course=straight
|beak position or structure subtype=terminal
|beak some measurement=2mm;3mm
|bract architecture or shape=leaflike
|cauline leaf arrangement=alternate
|distal leaf architecture=nearly;sessile
|flower architecture or shape=symmetric
|flower reproduction=bisexual
|fruits follicle architecture=sessile;aggregate
|fruits follicle shape=oblong
|inflorescence position=axillary
|inflorescence position or structure subtype=terminal
|inflorescence quantity=1;32
|inflorescence some measurement=0cm;28cm
|lamella dehiscence or orientation=transverse
|lamella size=small
|lamella texture=membranous
|lateral sepal quantity=2
|lateral sepal shape=round-reniform
|leaf position=cauline;basal
|leaf-blade shape=divided
|lower sepal quantity=2
|lower sepal shape=plane
|lower sepal some measurement=6mm;20mm
|margin shape=toothed;incised
|nectary presence=absent
|ovule quantity=10;20
|petal architecture=capitate;coiled
|petal fusion=distinct
|petal prominence=concealed
|petal quantity=2
|petal shape=long-clawed
|pistil architecture=simple
|pistil atypical quantity=3;5
|pistil quantity=3
|proximal leaf architecture=petiolate
|root architecture or arrangement=fascicled
|root shape=elongate
|seed shape=deltoid
|segment quantity=3;7
|sepal duration=not persistent
|side architecture=veined
|stamen quantity=25;50
|staminode presence=absent
|style presence=absent
|ultimate segment shape=lanceolate;linear
|upper sepal architecture or shape=beaked
|upper sepal height=tall
|upper sepal quantity=1
|upper sepal shape=cylindric;hemispheric;rounded-conic
|upper sepal some measurement=10mm;50mm
|whole_organism duration=perennial
|whole_organism growth form=herb
|x chromosome quantity=8
}}<!--

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