There’s A Deadly Plant Growing In Alaska Yards That Looks Like A Harmless Weed
By Megan McDonald|Published August 02, 2023
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Megan McDonald
Author
Megan McDonald is a writer, photographer, and owner of humu media, an Alaska-based digital media agency. She spends her free time traveling with her husband and daughter around the US and the world.
Alaska is a treasure trove of unique botanical wonders. Amidst its sprawling landscapes, the vivid blossoms of monkshood stand out with an elegance that belies its deadly nature. Monkshood is a deadly plant in Alaska that can be found right in your backyard! As alluring as it is lethal, this plant is a testament to nature’s paradoxical combination of beauty and danger. Within the vast terrains of The Last Frontier, monkshood offers both a visual treat and a cautionary tale about the inherent dualities in the natural world.
Alaska, renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and unique flora, harbors a fascinating yet deadly inhabitant: monkshood.
Also known as Aconitum, or Wolf’s Bane, monkshood is an elegant plant that cloaks a dark secret beneath its vibrant blooms. While it is common to encounter this plant in parts of Alaska, one must exercise extreme caution due to its lethal properties.
Monkshood belongs to the Aconitum genus, a group of perennial plants that thrive in the mountainous regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
The plant gets its name from the unique shape of its flowers, resembling the hood worn by medieval monks.
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In Alaska, particularly in the southeast and south-central regions, it’s not uncommon to come across Aconitum delphiniifolium, a specific species native to North America.
These plants favor moist environments, often growing along streambanks, open woodlands, and meadows, flourishing under the cool Alaskan climate.
What makes monkshood especially dangerous is the presence of aconitine, a highly toxic alkaloid found throughout the plant but concentrated mainly in the roots.
In Alaska, people sometimes confuse it with Larkspur (or Delphinium), which has beautiful blue to purple blooms. Though some larkspurs contain alkaloids that can be harmful if ingested, their toxicity is significantly less than that of monkshood. To distinguish the two, one can look at the flower shape; monkshood flowers are hooded, while larkspurs have a more spur-like formation.
Monkshood’s combination of beauty and danger is a stark reminder of the dual nature inherent in many of Alaska's wild inhabitants.
It stands as a testament to the balance of allure and peril that is so often present in nature. For residents and visitors of Alaska, the message is clear: admire monkshood from a distance and educate oneself about the local flora to ensure a safe and enriching experience in the Alaskan wilderness.
Did you know that monkshood is a deadly plant in Alaska? What do you think? Have you ever seen it in the wild? Let us know in the comments below!
