Aconitum delphinifolium seeds and germination

Aconitum delphinifolium flowers contain 3 carpels with approximately 10-20 ovules in each. After pollination the seeds are contained in an aggregate of 3 follicles about 1.5-2 cm in length. The number of seeds per follicle is variable, ranging from 8-12. Each seed weighs approximately 1 gram, and is stored in dry capsules that split upon maturity releasing the seeds. Since these seeds are toxic and too heavy for wind dispersal it seems that the most likely method of dispersal is by water (Molero and Puig, 1990). Seeds stored at Royal Botanic Kew Gardens for the Millennium Seed Bank Project had a 78% germination rate after being dried and froze for over 2 years.

Photo: http://www.cdhs.us/Flower%20Project/Family%20Index/Ranunculaceae%20Index/A.%20delphnifolium/A.%20delphnifolium%20Fset.htm

Aconitum seeds are dormant upon maturation and must be frozen for a period of time before being able to germinate. A study done on wild Aconitum seeds showed that those not exposed to cold temperatures failed to germinate, and those with the longest stratification periods had the highest germination rate. The period of stratification was also correlated to how quickly the seed germinated. Those with the longest duration of chilling took the shortest amount of time to germinate. Seeds that were chilled for 3 weeks took the same amount of time to germinate (21 days), whereas, seeds that were chilled for 84 days only took 11 days to germinate (Dosmann, 2002). This is a good adaptation to have to ensure that springtime has actually arrived. 

References:

Dosmann, Michael. "Stratification Improves and Is Likely Required for Germination of Aconitum Sinomonantum." Hort Technology 12.3 (2002): 423-25. Horttech. ASHS Publications. Web. 30 Jan. 2014.

Molero, Julia, and Antonieta Puig. "Seed Morphology of Iberian Species of the Genus Aconitum L." Collectanea Botanica (1990): 111-27. Diposit Digital. Web. 30 Jan. 2014.

Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. (2014) Seed Information Database (SID). Version 7.1. Available from: http://data.kew.org/sid/ (January 2014)

My Plant #1

Image: http://www.ontariowildflower.com/yukon_monkshood_keno.htm

Aconitum delphinifolium DC. is native to Alaska and is commonly referred to as larkspurleaf monkshood, or just monkshood. I became interested in monkshood because it has a rich history dating back to Greek mythology. All parts of the plant contain the alkaloid aconitine which is extremely toxic. In Greek mythology it was said that Aconitum grew on the hill of Aconitus, and it became poisonous after Cerberus, the multi-headed guard dog of Hades, fought with Hercules and its saliva fell on the plant (Kowalchik, et al). From that point on, Aconitum was a popular poison to use in hunting and warfare. The early Aleut whalers in Alaska used A. delphinifolium to prepare a poison they used on the end of their spears, reducing the effort needed to harvest the whale (Heizer). It was also used in medicine as an anesthetic, and is still used today by some as a topical pain reliever.

Monkshood can grow up to 3 feet tall, but often depends on neighboring plants for support to stay upright. Due to its toxicity it is mostly left alone by larger herbivores, however, there are some insects that depend on it as a food source. Some bumble bees use it exclusively as a food source, and in return provide pollination (Boland). 

Image: http://analogicalplanet.com/Pages/ContentPages/Vascular%20plants2/AconitumDelphinifolium.html

Rank	Scientific Name and Common Name
Kingdom	Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision	Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division	Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class	Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass	Magnoliidae
Order	Ranunculales
Family	Ranunculaceae – Buttercup family
Genus	Aconitum L. – monkshood
Species	Aconitum delphiniifolium DC. – larkspurleaf monkshood

Image: http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ACDE2

There are over 250 species in the Aconitum Genus, with  A. delphinifolium found solely in the Northwestern part of North America. The leaves of the plant look quite similar to the common delphinium (larkspur), which is where it got its name. A. dephilnifolium was named by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle (USDA). It gets its common name monkshood due to the fact that a sepal on the flower resembles the old fashion hoods worn by monks. 

Image: http://www.flora.dempstercountry.org/0.Site.Folder/Species.Program/Species2.php?species_id=Aco.delphi

References

Boland, Todd. "Monkshood-A Deadly Beauty." Mun.ca. Memorial University, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. <http://www.mun.ca/botgarden/gardening/gardennl/Monkshood_-_A_Deadly_Beauty.pdf>.

CYSIP. "Aconitum Delphinifolium : Northern Monkshood." Flora.dempstercountry.org. Central Yukon Species Inventory Project, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. <http://www.flora.dempstercountry.org/0.Site.Folder/Species.Program/Species2.php?species_id=Aco.delphi>.

Heizer, Robert F. "Pacific Eskimo Invention in Whale Hunting." Escholarship.org. University of California, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. <http://escholarship.org/uc/item/9780c95n#page-3>.

Kowalchik, Claire, William H. Hylton, and Anna Carr. "Aconite." Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs. Emmaus, PA: Rodale, 1987. 1-2. Google Books. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. <http://books.google.com/books?id=htGD3Y7WNxwC&pg=PA1&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=4#v=onepage&q&f=false>.

USDA. "Plants Profile for Aconitum Delphiniifolium (larkspurleaf Monkshood)." Plants.usda.gov. USDA, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. <http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ACDE2>.