Monkshood

Today's the day ................................... for the perfect murder weapon

Did you know that this garden plant, Aconitum napellus commonly known as Monkshood is one of the most toxic plants known to man? I'm not sure I did until I started doing a bit of online research and found out quite how poisonous it is.

The poison in Monkshood is called aconitine and if ingested in large enough quantity will cause a slow and painful death similar to that caused by strychnine poisoning. Aconite poisoning leaves no trace in the blood and the victim resembles one who has died of asphyxia. This is one of the main reasons why Monkshood is the perfect murder weapon.

All parts of it are poisonous - the stem, the sap, the petals or the roots and it must be handled with care. You don't have to take in the poison by mouth, it can be absorbed through the skin. This however would probably only result in irritation, slight dizziness and a little nausea - death only really happens if the plant is eaten.

So goodness knows why you don't need some sort of a special licence to grow it? It may be a beautiful plant - albeit a bit sinister-looking. It certainly shouldn't be grown in places where children or pets are around. It should be treated with the respect that it subliminally asks for ...................................