You should not mess with it and its toxins, because it is rightly considered the most poisonous plant in Europe - the monkshood. How can this poisonous perennial be recognized and with which other, non-poisonous plants can it be confused?
The leaves of the edible mugwort look confusingly similar to those of the monkshood
This is how you recognize the blue monkshood!
Blue monkshood is also known under the names blue foxglove, poisonous herb, balaclava, wolfsbane, chariot of Venus and crested toxic herb. It belongs to the representatives of the buttercup family and has a typically strongly hand-fingered foliage.
The monkshood grows upright and reaches a height of between 50 and 150 cm. Its stems are strong, stiff and little branched. The dark green leaves lie around them in an alternate sequence. The upper leaves are smaller than the lower leaves. All leaves are 5 to 7 parts down to the base and almost bare.
Here are other characteristics by which you can recognize the monkshood:
- erect terminal racemose inflorescences
- Flowering period from July to September
- blue to violet-blue flowers
- Catheterium is wider than high
- light green, later brown capsule fruits
- 10 to 14 brown, poisonous seeds per fruit
Caught: That's where he prefers to grow
You can find blue monkshood throughout Central Europe. It prefers to grow in mountainous areas. There it likes to be found wild in damp meadows and along watercourses. Monkshood is a rarity in full sun and dry locations. It needs cool and moist soil to grow.
Candidates with whom he can be confused
Put on gloves before checking to see if it is Monkshood or one of its confounders! Skin contact with monkshood can cause deafness and other symptoms of poisoning.
Monkshood is most commonly confused with:
- Mugwort: Leaves hairy and silvery underneath, strong odor when rubbed, inconspicuous white-grey inflorescences
- Wormwood: silvery gray foliage, similar to mugwort
- Common sage: leaves smell strongly sage-like, leaves are hairy
tips
Do not uproot a wild monkshood if you are concerned about its toxicity! It is a protected species and damage to the plant can result in fines if caught.