Aconite Is A Poisonous And Graceful Fighter. Planting And Care, Cultivation, Reproduction. Types And Varieties. Photo

2023 Author: Ava Durham | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 07:50

According to the ancient Greek myth, aconite grew out of the poisonous saliva of the horror-stricken hellish dog Cerberus, whom Hercules brought from the underworld to the earth (the eleventh feat of Hercules). The plant owes its name "fighter" to Scandinavian mythology: the fighter grew up on the site of the death of the god Thor, who defeated a poisonous snake and died from his bites. The poisonous properties of aconite were already known in ancient times: the Greeks and Chinese made poison for arrows from it, in Nepal they poisoned bait for large predators and drinking water when attacked by the enemy.

Plutarch writes that the soldiers of Mark Antony, poisoned by aconite, lost their memory, and they vomited with bile. According to legend, the famous khan Timur died from aconite - his skullcap was soaked in poisonous juice. The plant's toxicity is caused by the content of alkaloids (primarily aconitine) in it, which act on the central nervous system and cause convulsions and paralysis of the respiratory center.

The toxicity of aconite depends on the geographical location (soil, climate), on the age of the plant - in the southern latitudes it is most poisonous, and in Norway, for example, animals are fed with it. Cultivated in culture, on fertile garden soil, aconite loses its poisonous properties after several generations.

The medicinal uses of this plant are very diverse; in Tibet he is called "the king of medicine", he was treated with anthrax, pneumonia; in Russian folk medicine, the wrestler was used as an external pain reliever. To date, some types of aconite are listed in the Red Book.

Content:

• Description of aconite
• Growing aconite
• The use of aconite in garden design
• Types and varieties of aconite

Description of aconite

The genus includes more than 300 species, distributed in the temperate regions of Europe, Asia and North America. Perennial rhizomatous or root-tuberous herbaceous plants with erect, less often - twisting or climbing stems 50-150 cm high (in climbing ones up to 400 cm). Rhizomes are oblong-ovoid up to 5 cm long and 2 cm wide. The depth of root penetration into the soil is 5-30 cm. The leaves are palmate-separate, dissected or lobed, dark green, arranged in regular order.

Irregularly shaped aconite flowers are blue, purple, less often white, yellow or variegated. The corolla-shaped calyx consists of five sepals, and the upper one looks like a helmet, under its cover there are two petals that have turned into nectaries. Flowers are collected in a simple or branched racemose inflorescence up to 50 cm long. Bloom from July to late September. The fruit is a multi-seeded leaflet with straight or arched teeth. Seeds are small, gray, brown and black, in 1 g up to 450 pieces, remain viable for 1-1.5 years.

The most popular is nodule aconite, it is also blue. A highly variable complex species found throughout most of Europe, sometimes subdivided into smaller native species. For example, in the Carpathians, hard aconite and low aconite are distinguished, in the Alps - dense aconite.

The variability of this species, allowing you to choose from a variety of forms, contributed to its spread in gardens, but also caused a terrible confusion in the names. Other closely related species also introduced into the culture did not add clarity. This is Aconite paniculata - a southern European species with a branched stem. Flowers on long, spread-out pedicels create a loose raceme, seeds with 1 wing. Aconite variegated - like an intermediate link between them, combines the features of both. It is found with them in the same places, in particular, in the Carpathians.

And, finally, aconite kammarum two-tone Sterka, or graceful - a hybrid of motley and blue, finally confuses everything. It combines the traits of both parents, but has a more interesting, often two-tone flower coloration. This contributed to the fact that it has long and firmly established itself in our gardens, acting in the form of different varieties: "Bicolor" - highly branched, with short inflorescences of white flowers with a purple border. "Grandiflorum Album" ('Grandiflorum Album') with long brushes of pure white flowers, 'Pink Sensation' pink.

Growing aconite

Many types of Aconites are quite winter-hardy. When placed in the garden, be aware that Aconite Antorra (Aconitum anthora) and Aconite Karmihelya (Aconitum carmichaelii) should be planted on the high sunny places. The rest easily put up with waterlogging.

Aconites tolerate transplantation well. It is convenient to do it in spring or autumn, when the stems have not yet grown or have already been cut. The size of the planting pit should be such that the rhizome fits freely in it. Before planting, the pit is filled with full mineral fertilizer (15–20 g per planting pit). The root collar is deepened by 1–2 cm.

Aconite is very easy to propagate vegetatively, by dividing the rhizomes: in spring or autumn, the bush is easily divided into parts. The landing distance should be at least 25-30 cm.

Reproduction by seeds is also possible. But in Aconites the embryo of the seed is not fully developed, so the seeds can sprout only after a year, when they are ripe. You can achieve faster germination of seeds by applying pre-sowing preparation, in particular, stratification. Seedlings usually bloom in the 2nd or 3rd year. Varietal traits are not preserved during seed propagation.

Aconite care

Caring for Aconites is usual: loosening, feeding, weeding, removing dried inflorescences, in dry times - watering.

The plants are often affected by powdery mildew.

Planting aconite seeds

Aconite propagates by seeds, cuttings, dividing a bush or daughter tubers. Seeds are sown in the fall of the harvest year in slightly shaded areas with moist soil. Seedlings appear next spring. When sowing in spring, the seeds germinate after a year and their germination capacity is significantly reduced.

A two-stage stratification is recommended: warm at 20..25 ° C for about a month and in cold at 2..4 ° C for up to three months, after which the seeds germinate together at room temperature. At the stage of one or two leaves, seedlings of aconite dive at a distance of 10 cm, and in autumn they are planted in place according to the scheme 25 x 30. Young plants bloom in 2-3 years. Varietal traits are not preserved during seed propagation.

Reproduction of aconite

Rhizome species of aconite are divided and planted in spring, root-tuber ones - in autumn, in the first half of September. The planting distance should be at least 25-30 cm, as the bushes grow rapidly. To improve flowering, they must be divided every four years and transplanted to a new location. For cuttings, young herbaceous shoots 10-12 cm high are used, which develop in early spring from overwintered tubers. Older shoots do not take root due to lignification.

The use of aconite in garden design

The wrestler is used in single and small group landings, mixborders. Curly views are effective in vertical landscaping of gazebos and verandas. Aconite inflorescences can be used for bouquets. Cutting is done when one third of the flowers have blossomed. Used in medicine. Some species are included in the Red Book.

Although aconites are decorative throughout the season thanks to their dense and beautifully cut leaves, flowering adds to their charm. The first to bloom is high aconite (Aconitum septentrionale) - already at the end of May its flowers open. The woolly wrestler (Aconitum lasiostomum), and then the White-mouth wrestler (Aconitum leucostomum) pick up the baton in June, in July they are joined by the oakonites (Antidote wrestler, or Aconite Anthora (Aconitum anthora)), paniculata (Aconitum cammarum (garden wrestler), some varieties of Cammarum, and in August, Fischer's aconite (Aconitum fischeri) already bloom, climbing species and many of the nodule wrestler group, he is blue (Aconitum napellus). Aconite bloom is long, usually it stretches for a month or more.

Types and varieties of aconite

The napellus wrestler, or Aconite napellus, is also known as Aconite blue (Aconitum napellus), originally from Eurasia. (By the way, the monks' hood was called "klobuk", hence the name klobuchkovy). It is he who is most often found in Russian gardens. Large bushes (up to 2 m high) with dark purple, sometimes almost black flowers are not only beautiful all season, but also do not require a garter - their stems are strong and stable. When the central part of the shoot fades, the lateral ones bloom, which is why the flowering lasts about a month. There are several natural forms of this species.

• Aconite napellus subsp.nanum. Up to 1 m in height. The flowers are gray-lilac or off-white. Blooms in the first half of July.
• Aconite napellus lobelii form (Aconitum napellus subsp.lobelii). Height 1.2-1.5 m. Flowers in dense inflorescences are blue or blue-blue. And the form Glecherries is a form with white flowers. They bloom in early July.
• Aconite napellus pyramidal form (Aconitum napellus subs.paniculatum). Height 1–1.5 m. Flowers are violet-blue, very large. This subspecies is the source of the most beautiful varieties. Flowers 'Newry Blue' aqua. Blooms from July to August.
• Aconite napellus form Tauricum (Aconitum napellus subsp.tauricum). Dwarf form about 60 cm high. Originally from the vicinity of Salzburg and Tyrol.

Aconite nodule varieties:

• 'Blue Scepter' with purple-blue flowers and a white center, collected in dense clusters,
• 'Bressingham Spire' (height 90 cm) - with purple-blue.

Aconite bicolor (Aconitum bicolor) is referred to in some sources as a subspecies of nodular aconite, however, it is more often distinguished as a separate species. They are really very similar, but the two-tone aconite flowers are white with a wide violet-blue edging.

Wrestler, or Aconite variegated (Aconite variegatum) from the foothills of Central Europe. Prefers forest glades overgrown with herbs. The height of the stems is up to 2 m, the leaves are strongly dissected, the flowers are large, blue, white with a blue edge or pure white. Flowering time - end of July - September. Variegated aconite also has natural forms:

• Aconite variegated graceful form (Aconitum variegatum subsp. Gracile), beautiful and easy to grow variety, height up to 1 m;
• Aconite variegated Judenberg (Aconitum variegatum subsp. Judenbergense) with strong, straight, but not very stable stems over 2 m in height.

Garden wrestler, or garden aconite (Aconitum cammarum) is a widespread hybrid obtained by crossing nodule aconite, two-color aconite and variegated aconite. It is very similar to them, but the stems are thinner (require a light garter), the leaves are dissected into narrower lobes, and the flowers have an elongated helmet. There are also undersized varieties with dense inflorescences, they do not need a garter. The best place for aconite x saber is semi-shady or sunny, but protected from direct rays during hot times of the day. Varieties of garden aconite:

• 'Rubellum' - flowers are pale grayish pink;
• `Eleonora` -white flowers with a narrow blue edging;
• `Nachthimmel` -with very large dark purple flowers;
• 'Franz Marc' and 'Caerulleum' - with blue flowers.

In addition to these, the most common and easy-to-grow aconites, there are several rather rare, but very effective species

Northern wrestler, or tall wrestler, or ordinary wrestler (Aconitum septentrionale). Originally from Sweden. Very similar to wolf aconite. It differs from him only in the color of the flowers: they are dirty lilac. Its variety 'Ivorine' with white flowers is popular. This is the earliest flowering species, the beginning of flowering occurs at the end of June.

Wolf aconite (Aconitum lycoctonum). Originally from Europe, it grows in damp tall-grass spruce-deciduous forests, on the banks of rivers and streams. The height of the stems is from 60 cm to 2 m. The flowers are sulfur-yellow, and the height of the helmets is almost twice the width of the flower.

Antidote fighter, or Aconite Anthora (Aconite anthora). Mountain view, height only 30-40 cm, homeland - Alps, Pyrenees, Caucasus. Straight stems are crowned with large sulfur-yellow flowers. Loves neutral and moderately fertile soil. On fertile grows up to 60-90 cm. Blooms in mid-July.

Karmikhel's wrestler, or Karmikhel's Aconite (Aconitum carmichaelii). Originally from the Far East and China. Very beautiful view with thick high (up to 2 m) stems and very large flowers. Blooms late, in late August - September, and only in an open, sunny place. The flowers are blue. There is a subspecies with a cornflower blue color - Karmikhel aconite, Wilson's form.

The wrestler curly, or Aconite curly (Aconitum volubile) with flexible stems (more than 2 m), twisting around the supports is very beautiful. His homeland is Korea, Siberia. Beautiful carved leaves, graceful dark purple flowers in loose clusters hanging from supports, reminiscent of Chinese silk miniatures. There is a form with white flowers. This species requires landing in partial shade.