Aconite

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Aconite (lat. Aconite) - a numerous genus of herbaceous perennial flowering plants, most of which are extremely poisonous in all their parts. Such abilities somehow do not agree with the cute name of the family to which the genus is ranked - Buttercup (Latin Ranunculaceae). However, when dealing with a plant, you should be extremely careful and use protective equipment.

What's in your name

Everything that can accelerate the departure of a person from this beautiful world has always been overgrown with many legends and fables. This fate was not spared by the poisonous plant, Aconite, whose lethal abilities were used by Mankind throughout its presence on planet Earth.

The plant was associated with the underground kingdom of shadows, from which a person who fell into it had no way back to our world. After all, the exit was guarded by a terrible, evil and poisonous monster with three heads (apparently, the antipode of the three-faced Christian god, which people did not know about in those legendary times). But the person is not so simple. There was one brave man (Hercules, though he was a half-human-demigod) who managed to defeat the monster and throw him out into the world.

Unaccustomed, Cerberus (that was the name of the monster) vomited, and he threw out his poison on the ground. What was the earth to do? She endured such a lunge, gathered the poison of the monster in a heap and showed the world a tall, powerful plant, all parts of which were filled with this poison.

Since this whole story happened near the town of Akoni, the poisonous plant was given the name of an innocent city.

Description

Aconite has powerful roots, high growth, a lush bush, large, beautifully dissected leaves and unusual flowers. For its heroic appearance and flowers with a helmet-like petal, the people call the plant "Fighter".

During its long presence on Earth, the perennial plant has managed to create more than three hundred species, somewhat differing from each other in the shape of the roots (taproot formed by the interlacing of numerous thin roots, or the root on which poisonous tubers are formed); the shape and color of zygomorphic flowers, which are not quite rightly called "irregular", that is, they do not have the symmetry of their elements. Despite the unusual shape of the flower, it still has symmetry along one axis.

The choice of colors for flower petals is limited. They are white, pale yellow, dirty lilac, purple in different shades. The main highlight is not the color of the flower, but its shape with a crowning protective helmet covering the reproductive organs. A cluster inflorescence of large flowers is crowned with a tall, powerful peduncle.

Huge palm-shaped leaves are skillfully cut by nature into pointed "fingers", as if repeating the pattern of winter snowflakes. But the beauty of the leaves is combined with their toxicity. Although all parts of the plant contain toxic substances, their greatest concentration is observed in the leaves and roots of Aconite, which should be remembered when planting or transplanting an ornamental plant in your own garden.

Growing

Risky people are not afraid of the toxicity of Aconite, and therefore it is often planted in summer cottages, charging from it with energy and power.

Aconite feels more comfortable in partial shade, but will not be capricious if a sunny place falls out, since it is tolerant to any temperature and easily tolerates both heat and cold.

Aconite is not picky about the soil, but on moderately moist loams it demonstrates all its advantages much more successfully. If another soil falls out, then the plant should be watered regularly.

For reproduction of his species on the planet Aconit created several options: sowing fresh seeds; planting root tubers; branch of sheet sockets. When man-made reproduction, do not forget about protective gloves.

Pests

Like the Achilles' heel, the weak point of the powerful Aconite is its roots. Microscopic soil fungi, not fearing the poison of the plant, attack the roots, provoking their decay. From the roots, rot is transmitted to the stem, leading to the death of a powerful bush.

Also, Aconite can be affected by the ubiquitous mites.