Monkshood is sometimes confused with other plants, which can have disastrous consequences, so it’s important to know exactly what characterizes the plant.
The blue monkshood, also known as Aconitum napellus, is an ornamental plant. The herbaceous plant is found in Western and Central Europe, especially in mountainous regions.
The blue monkshood is particularly known for its bright blue-violet flowers, but is the most poisonous plant in Europe. This is due to the alkaloid aconitine it contains, which is found in all parts of the plant. Just 0.2 g of the blue monkshood can cause symptoms of poisoning in humans, while an amount of 2 to 4 g leads to death within 45 minutes.
If the skin comes into brief contact with the poison, it causes a burning, tingling and warm sensation. Longer contact, however, can lead to numbness and paralysis.
If ingested, the first symptoms are a burning and tingling sensation in the mouth. This can then be followed by vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and visual disturbances. In severe cases, muscle paralysis can even occur. Death is usually the result of cardiac arrhythmia and paralysis of the respiratory muscles.
Although the monkshood looks beautiful, it is one of the most dangerous plants in Europe. Since some parts of the plant are similar to other plants, it is important to avoid confusion.
Because of the extreme toxicity of monkshood and its similarity to other plants, you should know the differences between the plants.