Soldier's cap, Turk's-cap
Aconitum napellus

Family: Ranunculaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.

There are about 100 Aconitum species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It suits hardiness zones 5-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andorra, Asia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Europe, Ginland, France, Germany, India, Myanmar, North America, Norway, Portugal, SE Asia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, USA, Yugoslavia

How it is used for food

CAUTION: Aconitums are usually very poisonous. They contain toxic alkaloids including aconitine. It affects the nerves and heart. THEY SHOULD NOT BE EATEN. The tubers are eaten as a tonic.

Edible parts

Tubers, roots, caution

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Aconite, Ah-seik, Bear's foot, Friar's-cap, Helmut-flower, Luckie's mutch, Monkshood, Repičasta preobjeda

Synonyms

Delphinium napellus (L.) Baill.; Napellus vulgaris Fourr.;