Puple Flower Print #13 Wild Monkshood

There is something magic about wild flowers. They capture a sense of freedom and the spirit of nature. Open and trusting, they bloom for the whole world to see. The photograph of this Wild Blue Monkshood was taken along the Pacific Crest trail that starts in New Mexico and continues all the way up to Canada.

Inspirational Poems

The Wild Flower's Song

As I wander'd the forest,
The green leaves among,
I heard a wild flower
Singing a song.

I slept in the Earth
In the silent night,
I murmur'd my fears
And I felt delight.

In the morning I went
As rosy as morn,
To seek for new joy;
But O! met with scorn.
William Blake
(1757—1827)

Wild Flower

Wildflowers grow from mere dust to reach their full potential.
They grow well, even in adverse soil conditions.
They don't require late nights at the office to grow.
Wildflowers grow thick and stick together.
They grow strong and tall.
Wildflowers display their brilliant personalities for all to see.
Wildflowers withstand drought and grow all the more beautiful when watered.

Wildflowers withstand frost and hale.
Wildflowers last late in the season, when other flowers have given up.
Are you a wildflower?
by David Leonhardt

About Wild Blue Monkshood

Known as Aconitum “columbianum” of the Buttercup family. Monkshood is a distinctive looking wildflower borne on shoulder high erect and sturdy stems. The dark blue to lavender flowers loosely cluster near the stem tops. Each flower has five petal-like sepals: 2 lower sepals make a landing strip for pollinators; 2 side sepals, and 1 large sepal that arches over the flower forming a hood. The true petals are concealed under the hood. White or albino flowers are sometimes seen. Leaves are palmately lobed – that is, they look hand shaped. The leaf edges are deeply toothed. Monkshood blooms in midsummer from June through August.

Monkshood is found in wet meadows, along stream banks, and in seep springs. It often grows in large patches. It is the only species of monkshood that grows in our area.

Look for monkshood near Sagehen and Deadwood reservoirs. The common name for this plant comes from the hood-like sepal on the flower. The hood is thought to look like an old fashioned cowl worn by monks. Aconitum is an ancient Greek name for the plant, used by the Greek physician and pharmacist Dioscorides. Dioscorides lived around 40-90 A.D. and served as a botanist in Nero’s armies. Columbianum refers to the Columbia River.

All parts of monkshood are poisonous, especially the roots and seeds, and the flowers if eaten. In the past, wolves and criminals were poisoned with an extract from the European wolfsbane Acontium lycoctonum, a close relative of our monkshood. This species was also supposedly used as a component in witches’ brews. Our monkshood has similar chemical properties and contains the alkaloid aconitine.

Click here for more Amazing Pictures Of Nature, Flowers Prints, Beautiful Winter Scenery