Aconitum (also known as aconite or wolfsbane) is a genus of poisonous flowering plants in the Ranunculaceae family.
The color of the flowers usually varies from blue to purple, some species are yellowish. They consist of five petals that form a characteristic shape resembling a hood or helmet. This shape gave it its common names, such as devil's helmet, helmet flower, monkshood, torikabuto (鳥兜 lit. bird's helmet). The leaves are lobed.
Most Aconitum species are highly poisonous and were historically used to poison the tips of javelins and arrows.
