Pendulous Monkshood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Pendulous Monkshood

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Aconitum szechenyianum var. glabrum
• Aconitum szechenyianum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

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

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of habitats across the vast landscapes of China. It can be found growing within the regions of China South-Central and China North-Central. Furthermore, its presence extends into the high-altitude terrains of Qinghai. The distribution also encompasses the specialized environments found throughout Tibet. Collectively, these areas define the primary geographical range for Aconitum pendulum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Aconitum pendulum is characterized by its preference for high-altitude environments, where it occupies specific montane or subalpine niches. This species is typically found within a distinct vertical distribution, ranging from a minimum elevation of 2800 m AMSL to a maximum altitude of 4500 m AMSL. Across its natural habitat, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 3650 m AMSL, suggesting an adaptation to the cool, often moisture-rich conditions and thinner atmospheres associated with these high-elevation ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

4500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

3650 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

2800 m AMSL

Morphology

The morphology of Aconitum pendulum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. As a self-supporting plant, it does not exhibit climbing tendencies, maintaining a stature that typically reaches a mean height of 0.63 m. The height of the plant is variable depending on environmental conditions, ranging from a minimum of 0.26 m to a maximum of 1 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

herb

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.63 m

Plant height min:

0.26 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Aconitum pendulum is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its foliage, which play a crucial role in its photosynthetic capacity and metabolic efficiency. The leaf architecture exhibits measurable variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3.4 cm to a maximum of 5.5 cm, maintaining an average length of 4.45 cm. Complementing this longitudinal growth, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 4.5 cm and a maximum of 5.5 cm, resulting in a mean width of 5 cm. These precise leaf measurements reflect the plant's adaptive strategies for surface area optimization, ensuring efficient gas exchange and light interception essential for its physiological processes.

Leaf length max:

5.5 cm

Leaf length mean:

4.45 cm

Leaf length min:

3.4 cm

Leaf width max:

5.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

4.5 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Aconitum pendulum is characterized by the development of specialized fruit structures that facilitate the continuation of the species. The fruits produced by this plant exhibit specific dimensional ranges, with measured fruit lengths typically falling between a minimum of 1.1 cm and a maximum of 1.4 cm. On average, the fruit length is recorded at approximately 1.25 cm. These morphological traits are essential indicators of the plant's reproductive success and maturity within its ecological niche.

Fruit length max:

1.4 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.25 cm

Fruit length min:

1.1 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

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

Rhizome

1. Fitoterapia

Root

1. Fitoterapia

Chemicals

Aconitum pendulum has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include aconitine, 14-O-acetylneoline, 3-Acetylaconitine, 3-Deoxyaconitine, Hypaconitine.

aconitine

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
2. Toxins
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Frontiers in plant science
5. Journal of chromatographic science

14-O-acetylneoline

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

3-Acetylaconitine

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

3-Deoxyaconitine

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hypaconitine

1. Journal of chromatographic science

Activities

Aconitum pendulum has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antitumor, Styptic.

Antitumor

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Styptic

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Conditions

Aconitum pendulum has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include analgesic, arthralgia, rheumatic diseases, rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis.

Analgesic

1. Phytochemistry

Arthralgia

1. Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE

Rheumatic diseases

1. Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE

Rheumatism

1. Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE

Rheumatoid arthritis

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Sprains

1. Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE

Preparations

Aconitum pendulum has 1 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include APB.

Apb

1. Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE