''Aconitum fischeri'' is a species of flowering plant of the genus ''
Aconitum
''Aconitum'' (), also known as aconite, monkshood, wolf's-bane, leopard's bane, mousebane, women's bane, devil's helmet, queen of poisons, or blue rocket, is a genus of over 250 species of flowering plants belonging to the family Ranunculaceae. ...
'', in the buttercup family,
Ranunculaceae
Ranunculaceae (buttercup or crowfoot family; Latin "little frog", from "frog") is a family of over 2,000 known species of flowering plants in 43 genera, distributed worldwide.
The largest genera are ''Ranunculus'' (600 species), ''Delphinium' ...
. It is native to Korea and Siberia and cultivated in gardens in temperate zones for its showy flowers. Plants bloom from early to late summer. The plant contains poisonous
aconite
Aconite may refer to:
*'' Aconitum'', a plant genus containing the monkshoods
*Aconitine
Aconitine is an alkaloid toxin produced by various plant species belonging to the genus ''Aconitum'' (family Ranunculaceae), known also commonly by the na ...
, but according to ancient Chinese medical lore, if it is carefully measured, prepared, and used, it is believed to be beneficial in the treatment of colds, coughs, and fevers. If the measuring is in the slightest degree inaccurate, however, it is pure poison.
[Pearl S. Buck, "The Three Daughters of Madame Liang," London: Moyer Bell, 1969, p. 220.] The plant is susceptible to downy mildew caused by the oomycete species ''
Peronospora aconiti
''Peronospora'' is a genus of oomycetes that are obligate plant pathogens of many eudicots. Most species in this group produce a downy mildew disease, which can cause severe damage to many different cultivated crops, as well as wild and ornamenta ...
''.
References
fisceri
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