''Aconitum anthora'', variously known as anthora, yellow monkshood, or healing wolfsbane, is a yellow flowering plant species of the genus ''

Aconitum ''Aconitum'' (), also known as aconite, monkshood, wolfsbane, leopard's bane, devil's helmet, or blue rocket, is a genus of over 250 species of flowering plants belonging to the family (biology), family Ranunculaceae. These herbaceous perennial ...

'' in the family

Ranunculaceae Ranunculaceae (, buttercup or crowfoot family; Latin "little frog", from "frog") is a family (biology), family of over 2,000 known species of flowering plants in 43 genera, distributed worldwide. The largest genera are ''Ranunculus'' (600 spec ...

. Its native range is widespread, but mainly in European mountains, such as the

Alps The Alps () are some of the highest and most extensive mountain ranges in Europe, stretching approximately across eight Alpine countries (from west to east): Monaco, France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria and Slovenia. ...

and the

Carpathians The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians () are a range of mountains forming an arc across Central Europe and Southeast Europe. Roughly long, it is the third-longest European mountain range after the Urals at and the Scandinavian Mountains ...

, and the northern parts of Asia. Like all ''Aconitum'' species, it has great variability, due to isolation and hybridisation. Because of this polymorphism, ''A. anthora'' is included in the ''Aconitum vulparia'' group. It flowers from July to September. The name ''anthora'' or "against thora" stems from the historic reputation that the plant's

tuber Tubers are a type of enlarged structure that plants use as storage organs for nutrients, derived from stems or roots. Tubers help plants perennate (survive winter or dry months), provide energy and nutrients, and are a means of asexual reproduc ...

ous

root In vascular plants, the roots are the plant organ, organs of a plant that are modified to provide anchorage for the plant and take in water and nutrients into the plant body, which allows plants to grow taller and faster. They are most often bel ...

was a good

antidote An antidote is a substance that can counteract a form of poisoning. The term ultimately derives from the Greek term φάρμακον ἀντίδοτον ''(pharmakon antidoton)'', "(medicine) given as a remedy". An older term in English which is ...

to poisons from 'thora' or ''

Doronicum pardalianches ''Doronicum pardalianches'', known as leopard's-bane, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. Like other members of the genus ''Doronicum'', it is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial In horticulture, the term perennial ('' ...

'', a plant that is extremely toxic to livestock and humans, with even small doses being potentially deadly. The root contains a large amount of volatile salt and

essential oil An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile (easily evaporated at normal temperatures) chemical compounds from plants. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils, aetheroleum, or simply as the ...

, while the foliage and stems contain

diterpenoid Diterpenes are a class of terpenes composed of four isoprene units, often with the molecular formula C20H32. They are biosynthesized by plants, animals and fungi via the HMG-CoA reductase pathway, with geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate being a primar ...

alkaloid Alkaloids are a broad class of natural product, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. Some synthetic compounds of similar structure may also be termed alkaloids. Alkaloids are produced by a large varie ...

s. It has been used externally against

rheumatism Rheumatism or rheumatic disorders are conditions causing chronic, often intermittent pain affecting the joints or connective tissue. Rheumatism does not designate any specific disorder, but covers at least 200 different conditions, including a ...

and deep pain, but it can irritate the skin. Internally, it has been used for weak

pulse In medicine, the pulse refers to the rhythmic pulsations (expansion and contraction) of an artery in response to the cardiac cycle (heartbeat). The pulse may be felt ( palpated) in any place that allows an artery to be compressed near the surfac ...

, vegetable poisons (shoot),

fever Fever or pyrexia in humans is a symptom of an anti-infection defense mechanism that appears with Human body temperature, body temperature exceeding the normal range caused by an increase in the body's temperature Human body temperature#Fever, s ...

ish

colds The common cold, or the cold, is a virus, viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract that primarily affects the Respiratory epithelium, respiratory mucosa of the human nose, nose, throat, Paranasal sinuses, sinuses, and larynx. ...

pneumonia Pneumonia is an Inflammation, inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as Pulmonary alveolus, alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of Cough#Classification, productive or dry cough, ches ...

croup Croup ( ), also known as croupy cough, is a type of respiratory infection that is usually caused by a virus. The infection leads to swelling inside the trachea, which interferes with normal breathing and produces the classic symptoms of "bar ...

, heart conditions, and

cardiac arrest Cardiac arrest (also known as sudden cardiac arrest CA is when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. When the heart stops beating, blood cannot properly Circulatory system, circulate around the body and the blood flow to the ...

Synonyms

* ''Aconitum pseudanthora'' Blocki ex Pacz. * ''Aconitum eulophum'' Rchb. * ''Aconitum jacquinii'' Rchb. * ''Aconitum nemorosum'' M.Bieb.

References

* *

External links

Aconitum anthora in Topwalks

Has illustration of the acontium by Maund, B., The botanic garden, t. 169-192, vol. 8: t. 174, fig. 3 (1839-1840)

anthora The Anthora is a design for a disposable paper cup for coffee that has become iconic in New York City daily life. History The cup was originally designed by Leslie Buck of the Sherri Cup Company in 1963, to appeal to Greek-owned coffee sho ...

Flora of the Alps Flora of Europe Neurotoxins Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Flora of the Carpathians {{Ranunculaceae-stub