Alaskan Monkshood

Aconitum delphiniifolium
Ranuculaceae/ButtercupFamily

Monkshood grows in woodlands, meadows and mid-alpine areas. It is a tall (2-4') slender plant with leaves having 5 deeply divided, lobes. The dark blue-purple flowers are scattered on a long stem and are shaped like a helmet giving the impression of a hooded monk. All parts of this plant are highly poisonous.

The genus Aconitum is ancient Latin name for a "poisonous plant", from the Greek akoniton, which can also mean "wolfsbane". Or it perhaps derives from akon "a dart", because arrows were once dipped into monkshood juice.