Aconitum napellus (leaf)

Introduction

Introduction from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aconitum_napellus, retrieved 02/20/2012).

Aconitum napellus (Monkshood, "aconite", "Wolf's Bane", Fuzi, "Monk's Blood", or "Monk's Hood") is a species of Aconitum in the family Ranunculaceae, native and endemic to western and central Europe.

It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 1 m tall, with hairless stems and leaves. The leaves are rounded, 5–10 cm diameter, palmately divided into five to seven deeply lobed segments. The flowers are dark purple to bluish-purple, narrow oblong helmet-shaped, 1–2 cm tall.

Plants are grown in gardens in temperate zones for their spike-like inflorescences that are showy in early-mid summer and their attractive foliage. There are white and rose colored forms in cultivation too.

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Macroscopic Entries

Aconitum napellus - Tropicos.org Herbarium Specimen (Unknown - s.n.)  Reference see Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 05 Aug 2013 <http://www.tropicos.org/Image/100190599> Source: MOBOT, Tropicos.org Aconitum napellus - Tropicos.org Herbarium Specimen (Unknown - s.n.)

Microscopic Entries

Wolf's Bane (leaf) (Aconitum napellus) L., Ranunculaceae.Epidermal cells (upper and lower) tabular with wavy vertical walls; stomata on lower surface only; upper cells larger and vertical walls less wavy; trichromes simple, single celled with warty markings. Few comparatively thin walled, nearly colorless, very porous, stone cells. Pollen grains oval. Source: Schneider, A. (1921) The Microanalysis of Powdered Vegetable Drugs, 2nd ed.