Aconitum henryi

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Aconitum henryi
Aconitum henryi, inflorescence
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Ranunculaceae
Genus: Aconitum
Species:
A. henryi
Binomial name
Aconitum henryi
Synonyms

Aconitum lioui[1]
Aconitum shensiense[1]
Aconitum sungpanense[1]

Aconitum henryi is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family known by the common name Sparks variety monkshood.[2]

Description[edit]

herbarium specimen (cultivar)

Aconitum henryi is a tall (up to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) tall),[2] spindly, erect perennial which grows from rhizomes. It has glossy dark green[2] divided leaves, the surfaces are glabrous or adaxially sparsely appressed pubescent. The stem is long with far-spaced flowers. The sepals are blue or deep violet-blue.[2] The flowering period extends over the months of September and October. The fruits are pod-like follicles.[3] Aconitum henryi is poisonous due to the presence of alkaloids.

This species is often cultivated. There are different varieties.

Taxonomy[edit]

It was found in China and then first described and published by German botanist Ernst Georg Pritzel in Bot. Jahrb. Syst. (Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik) Vol.29 on page 329 in 1900.[4][5]

It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 18 February 1998.[5]

Distribution[edit]

This wildflower is native to China,[5] (within the provinces of Gansu, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan and Zhejiang) where it grows in forests and scrubs in mountainous areas (1,000–3,100 m (3,300–10,200 ft) above sea level).[3]

Conservation[edit]

It is considered a plant of least concern on the 'Asia Red List' of plants based on the IUCN Red List.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c The Plant List (KEW): Aconitum henryi (2018-04-03)
  2. ^ a b c d "Aconitum 'Spark's Variety' | monk's hood 'Spark's Variety'/RHS Gardening". www.rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b Encyclopedia of Life: Aconitum henryi (2018-04-03)
  4. ^ "Aconitum henryi | International Plant Names Index". www.ipni.org. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  5. ^ a b c "Aconitum henryi". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  6. ^ "Asia Red List". www.abcdn.org. Retrieved 7 June 2020.