General poisoning notes:

Monk's hood (Aconitum napellus) is an outdoor ornamental herb. The plant contains poisonous alkaloids, which have proved toxic in humans when accidentally ingested (e.g., aconitine; see Fiddes 1958). Few cases of animal poisoning occur (Kingsbury 1964).

References:

Fiddes, F. S. 1958. Poisoning by aconitine. Report of two cases. Br. Med. J., 2: 779-780.

Nomenclature:

Scientific Name: Aconitum napellus L.
 

Vernacular name(s): monk's hood

Scientific family name: Ranunculaceae

Vernacular family name: crowfoot

Go to ITIS*^ca for more taxonomic information on: Aconitum napellus

References:

Agriculture Quebec. 1975. Noms des maladies des plantes du Canada/ Names of plant diseases in Canada. , Quebec City, Que., Canada. 288 pp.

Alex, J. F., Cayouette, R., Mulligan, G. A. 1980. Common and botanical names of weeds in Canada/Noms populaire et scientifiques des plantes nuisibles du Canada. Revised. Agric. Can. Publ., Ottawa, Ont., Canada. 132 pp.

Bailey, L. H., Bailey, E. Z. 1976. Hortus third. Revised. MacMillan, New York, N.Y., USA. 1290 pp.

Scoggan, H. J. 1978, 1979. The flora of Canada. Nat. Mus. Nat. Sci. (Ottawa) Publ. Bot. 7(1)-7(4). 1711 pp.

Van Wijk, H. L. 1911. A dictionary of plant names. Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, The Netherlands. 1444 pp.

Victorin, M. 1964. Flore Laurentienne. 2nd ed. Univ. Montreal, Montreal, Que., Canada. 952 pp.

Geographic Information

Plant or plant parts used in or around the home.

References:

Bailey, L. H., Bailey, E. Z. 1976. Hortus third. Revised. MacMillan, New York, N.Y., USA. 1290 pp.

Boivin, B. 1966, 1967. Énumération des plantes du Canada. Provencheria 6. Nat. Can. (Que.) 93: 253-274; 371-437; 583-646; 989-1063. 94: 131-157; 471-528; 625-655.

Image or illustration

monk's hood:

Images: images.google.com

Toxic parts:

all parts
leaves
roots
 

References:

Lampe, K. F., McCann, M. A. 1985. AMA Handbook of poisonous and injurious plants. American Medical Assoc. Chicago, Ill., USA. 432 pp.

Toxic plant chemicals:

aconitine
 

References:

Bonisteel, W. J. 1940. Polyploidy in relation to chemical analysis. J. Am. Pharm. Assoc., 6: 404-408.

Fiddes, F. S. 1958. Poisoning by aconitine. Report of two cases. Br. Med. J., 2: 779-780.

Animals/Human Poisoning:

Note: When an animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993) contained no detailed explanation.

Humans

General symptoms of poisoning:

agitation
faintness
muscle, weakness of
nausea
salivation
skin, cold and moist
throat, constriction
tingling sensation
vomiting
 

References:

Fiddes, F. S. 1958. Poisoning by aconitine. Report of two cases. Br. Med. J., 2: 779-780.