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Herbs & Plants

Aconitum Volubile

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Botanical Name: Aconitum volubile
Family:
Ranunculaceae
Tribe:
Delphinieae
Genus:
Aconitum
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Ranunculales

Habitat : E. Asia – W. China, Korea, Mongolia.  Thickets in the sub-alpine zone to 4000 metres.

Description:
Perennial Climber growing to 2m by 1m.
It is hardy to zone 2. It is in flower from August to October. The flowers are pollinated by Bees.

Click to see the picture

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Cultivation :
Thrives in most soils and in the light shade of trees, climbing through dwarf shrubs. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers a moist soil in sun or semi-shade. Prefers a calcareous soil. There is some confusion over the naming of this species. A. volubilis comes from Altai in Mongolia, reports for A. volubile in Korea probably refer to A. neotortuosum. Grows well in open woodlands. A climbing plant, twining around supports. Members of this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits and deer. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby species, especially legumes.

Propagation
:
Seed – best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. The seed can be stratified and sown in spring but will then be slow to germinate. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer. This species is easier from seed than most members of the genus. Division – best done in spring but it can also be done in autumn. Another report says that division is best carried out in the autumn or late winter because the plants come into growth very early in the year

Edible Uses:
Edible Parts: Leaves.

Young leaves – dried and cooked. This report should be treated with great distrust due to the poisonous nature of the genus[K].

Medicinal Actions & Uses
:
Anaesthetic; Anodyne; Diaphoretic; Diuretic.

The dried root is anaesthetic. It is also used in the same ways as A. napellus, which means that it is anodyne, diaphoretic and diuretic. This is a very poisonous plant and should only be used with extreme caution and under the supervision of a qualified practitioner.

Known Hazards: The whole plant is highly toxic – simple skin contact has caused numbness in some people

Disclaimer:The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Aconitum+volubile
http://www.giftpflanzen.com/aconitum_volubile.html
http://www.asianflora.com/Ranunculaceae/Aconitum-volubile.htm
http://www.abc.se/~m8449/pic/aconitumvol.jpg

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