Kusnezoff Monkshood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Kusnezoff Monkshood

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Aconitum pulcherrimum var. tenuisectum
• Aconitum kusnezoffii var. yamatsutae
• Aconitum volubile var. pulcherrimum
• Aconitum kusnezoffii var. multicarpidium
• Aconitum kusnezoffii lusus latisectum
• Aconitum qianxiense
• Aconitum triphylloides
• Aconitum pulcherrimum
• Aconitum pulcherrimum subsp. birobidshanicum
• Aconitum pulcherrimum subsp. luferovii
• Aconitum ningwuense
• Aconitum kusnezoffii subsp. birobidshanicum
• Aconitum kusnezoffii var. birobidshanicum
• Aconitum kusnezoffii var. gibbiferum
• Aconitum gibbiferum
• Aconitum birobidshanicum
• Aconitum yamatsutae
• Aconitum kusnezoffii var. crispulum
• Aconitum kusnezoffii var. nutans
• Aconitum kusnezoffii lusus tenuisectum
• Aconitum napellus lusus altaicum
• Aconitum kusnezoffii var. pilosum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Aconitum kusnezoffii, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is further classified within the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling under the order Ranunculales. Finally, it is a member of the family Ranunculaceae and the genus Aconitum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several key regions of Northern Asia. Within the vast expanse of Siberia, it can be found inhabiting the territories of Buryatiya and Chitа. It also grows throughout the Irkutsk region and extends into the northern reaches of Yakutiya. Furthermore, its presence is documented within the Russian Far East, specifically in the Amur region. Consequently, these locations define the primary geographical range for this medicinal species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Aconitum kusnezoffii is characterized by its preference for diverse montane environments, where it typically thrives in forest edges, meadows, mountains, and shrubberies. This species occupies a specific altitudinal niche, with an elevational range that begins at 1000 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 2400 m AMSL. Within this vertical distribution, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1612.5 m AMSL, indicating a strong adaptation to mid-to-high altitude temperate ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

2400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1612.5 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1000 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest edges, meadows, mountains, shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Aconitum kusnezoffii is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, meaning the plant persists through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. As a perennial herb, it relies on specialized underground structures, such as tuberous roots, to store nutrients and survive periods of dormancy during unfavorable environmental conditions. Each year, the plant emerges from its dormant state to undergo vegetative growth and flowering, eventually producing seeds to facilitate sexual reproduction. This long-term survival strategy allows the species to establish stable populations within its habitat, as it can regenerate its biomass annually from its established root system.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Aconitum kusnezoffii is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. This plant is a self-supporting, terrestrial species that does not exhibit climbing behavior or parasitic tendencies, functioning as an independent organism. In terms of stature, it is a relatively modest specimen with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.6 m to a maximum of 1.5 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 1.025 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

1.025 m

Plant height min:

0.6 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Aconitum kusnezoffii is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and environmental adaptations. The vegetative development of the plant is reflected in its leaf morphology, where leaf dimensions exhibit significant variability. The foliage typically maintains a mean leaf length of 10 cm, ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 16 cm. Concurrently, the leaf width demonstrates a broad spectrum, with a mean width of 15 cm, a minimum value of 5 cm, and a maximum width reaching up to 20 cm.

Leaf length max:

16 cm

Leaf length mean:

10 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

20 cm

Leaf width mean:

15 cm

Leaf width min:

5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Aconitum kusnezoffii is characterized by bisexual flowers, facilitating sexual reproduction through both male and female reproductive organs within the same flower. The flowering period for this species typically occurs during the summer months, beginning in July and concluding in August. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruits that vary in size; the fruit length ranges from a minimum of 1.2 cm to a maximum of 2 cm, with an average length of approximately 1.6 cm.

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

2 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.6 cm

Fruit length min:

1.2 cm

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Aconitum kusnezoffii has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, seed.

Root

1. Phytochemistry
2. Journal of Nippon Medical School = Nippon Ika Daigaku zasshi

Seed

1. PloS one

Chemicals

Aconitum kusnezoffii has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include aconitine, Hypaconitine, Abscisic acid (ABA), Benzoylaconine, Benzoylhypaconine.

aconitine

1. Phytochemistry
2. Journal of Nippon Medical School = Nippon Ika Daigaku zasshi
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Hypaconitine

1. Phytochemistry
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Abscisic acid (ABA)

1. PloS one

Benzoylaconine

1. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Benzoylhypaconine

1. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Gibberellins

1. PloS one

Preparations

Aconitum kusnezoffii has 2 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include decoction, leaves.

Decoction

1. Human & experimental toxicology

Leaves

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica