There are two theories that describe the origin of the word aconite, on the one hand it is said that it comes from the Latin "akontion" which means "dart" given that the substance that emanated from this plant was used by some peoples to poison their arrows and by Another part is the theory that its etymology comes from the Greek "akon" whose meaning is "stone or rock" and it is because this plant has the ability to develop between rocky mountains.
Aconite (aconitum) is a plant that belongs to the Ranunculáceas family whose physical appearance is of a tall and erect stem generally reaching a height of 1.5 meters, its leaves are palmate and contain stipules with a dark green pigmentation and its flower can get to have 10 to 12 petals presented colors that can vary between blue, purple, pink, yellow or white which are in the crown of the stem in the form of a cluster. This is a lively, herbaceous perennial plant of origin in the northern hemisphere and it grows among the rocks in mountainous areas in humid and shady places.
The aconite proves to be a poisonous plant when the seed has matured, the toxic substance that contains this plant is called aconitina and is very dangerous, so the handling of this plant should be treated with care, as they have known cases where contact with the skin causes effects by the poison. However, it is used in the preparation of pharmaceutical specialties and its use is restricted under prescription and medical supervision. It is considered the most toxic plant in Europe.
