Aconite

Aconite
Species information
Alternative names	Monkshood Wolfsbane
Sentience	Non-sentient
Stem	Green in colour
Leaves	Dark green
Flowers	Purple
Distinction(s)	Poisonous
Usage	Flowers used in Potion-making Herbology
Status	Extant

"As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite."

— Professor Severus Snape during Harry Potter's first Potions class

Aconite (also known as monkshood or wolfsbane) was a mundane plant with magical properties.

Description

Its flowers were useful in potion-making, but its leaves were very toxic. The root of aconite could be used as a potion ingredient. Aconite was most commonly known as an ingredient of Wolfsbane Potion, but it was also an ingredient in Wideye Potion.

History

"Put your gloves on, because today we're tending Aconite. Aconite is useful in many potions, but it's very toxic. Poisoning will result in a failing grade and a visit to the Hospital Wing. Before we begin, I will demonstrate proper safety precautions."

— Professor Sprout to fifth year Herbology students

The Sunrise Early Edition of The New York Ghost published on 30 May 1927 had an article located on page 11, column 4 about Wolfsane seeds found in No-Maj nursery.

Jacob's sibling watering Aconite in Herbology

During the 1988–1989 school year, fifth-year Herbology students were taught about Aconite by Professor Pomona Sprout. She had her students wear their dragon-hide gloves whilst handling the plant due its toxicity.

On 2 September 1991, Severus Snape critically interrogated Harry Potter about this plant in his first Potions lesson with him, to see how much he knew about the subject.

During the 2010–2011 school year, Daniel Page and a Muggle-born student encountered an aconite plant in the Forbidden Forest while helping Rubeus Hagrid collect Dittany to brew Essence of Dittany to help heal the Hippogriff Teartalon. The student asked Daniel if the aconite was Dittany, but Daniel warned them in time before they touched it, alerting them that the plant was aconite and that its leaves were poisonous to the touch.

Behind the scenes

• There are over 250 species of Aconitum, the most common of which are known as aconite, monkshood, or wolfsbane.
• Aconitum species are highly toxic, although they were used in medicine as a pain-reliever, diuretic, heart sedative, and to induce sweating.
• In medieval Europe, aconite was often used as poison in animal bait. or on arrows used when hunting wolves, hence the herb also became known as wolfsbane.
• Aconite, a member of the buttercup family, was believed to be an important ingredient in witches' flying ointments.
• The closed captions for the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone erroneously refers to aconite as "akamite."
• This plant was created for the Beta testing of Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, but it along with other ingredients and potions did not make the final cut and were not released in the game.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First mentioned)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film) (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game) (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (Mentioned in a newspaper)
• Pottermore
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite (Cut from final edit)
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
• Hogwarts Legacy (Mentioned only)
• The Art of Harry Potter: Mini Book of Graphic Design