Help with this Blue Flower ID

[Thistledo]

Hi All, I've been watching this plant for months and it has finally flowered, I can only find 2 of them on my daily walk so they must be quite rare in this area, the other one failed to flower due to aphid attack, can anyone tell me what it is and is it rare in east central scotland.

[earthdragon64]

It looks like Monk's-hood, Aconitum napellus, which is very poisonous. I think it's native in the south west of England, but is likely to be a naturalised garden escape elsewhere.

I've only ever seen it in areas near human habitation, but I don't think it's particularly rare.

[Hedera]

Definitely Monk's Hood, or Wolfsbane as the old English name. Grows wild around here in some places still. All parts of the plant are very poisonous, perhaps they baited meat to kill wolves with it.

[KeenTeen17]

Originally Posted by Hedera

Definitely Monk's Hood, or Wolfsbane as the old English name. Grows wild around here in some places still. All parts of the plant are very poisonous, perhaps they baited meat to kill wolves with it.

Monkshood is correct - the one near me is just opening

[Thistledo]

Hi All, thank you all once again for your invaluable knowledge and sharing it.

Best regards , Bob.

[davidbr]

Yes, it's definitely Monk's-hood (Aconitum napellus) - it's a native in parts of the south-west, and a fairly frequent garden escape elsewhere.

Wolfsbane, though, is actually a different plant (Acontium lycoctonum) - it has white flowers, not blue, and as far as I know is far rarer naturalised in the UK.

[Tiggrx]

Originally Posted by davidbr

Wolfsbane, though, is actually a different plant (Acontium lycoctonum) - it has white flowers, not blue, and as far as I know is far rarer naturalised in the UK.

The name Wolfsbane is also commonly used for A. napellus

[davidbr]

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

The name Wolfsbane is also commonly used for A. napellus

In that case, I've just learnt something - I've never heard or seen it called anything but Monk's-hood