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Aconitum variegatum - Wolf’s Bane, Monkshood
Aconitum is thought to be from the Greek ἀκόνιτον - “without struggle”. And it is without struggle that this plant causes death.
This beautiful perennial flower can be seen through the autumn months in forests and taigas in Europe, and is popular as an ornamental in gardens, lending color long after summer blooms have faded.
It can also be found in the traditional bikh poison, nepaline, in the writings of Ovid and Dioscorides, and in the bodies of murdered Borgia family members.
Flora Conspicua; a selection of the most ornamental flowering, hardy, exotic and indigenous trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. Richard Morris, 1826.
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Paeonia officinalis - European Peony
The European peony is one of the oldest cultivated species of peony, and also one of the most uncommon to be found in gardens these days. They can still be found wild throughout Europe, however.
Flora Conspicua. Richard Morris, 1826.
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Lathyrus grandiflorus -The Two-Flowered Everlasting Pea
The everlasting pea is a species of the genus Lathyrus (pea plants) that’s indigenous to Great Britain. It doesn’t set down seed well, and is not considered healthy to eat, when it does (much like the sweet pea).
However, despite its difficulty of cultivation in a home garden, everlasting peas are still popular ornamentals, and the seedlings are available at most greenhouses and nurseries throughout Europe. The tendrils that you see at the end of each stem will climb trellises and other plants easily, so it’s inadvisable to plant everlasting peas near any other herbaceous growths.
Flora Conspicua; A Selection of the Most Ornamental Flowering, Hardy, Exotic and Indigenous Trees, Shrubs, and Herbaceous Plants, For Embellishing Flower-Gardens and Pleasure-Grounds. Richard Morris, 1826.
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Canis Zorda [now Vulpes zerda] - Fennec Fox
The Fennec fox is indigenous to Northern Africa, especially around Morocco, but is common in zoos around the world. Their large ears dissipate the heat of the desert, and their thick fur keeps them warm during the surprisingly-cold nights of the Sahara. They’re the smallest canid in the world, and often weigh less than 3 lbs as adults. Despite their tiny size, their ears can reach up to six inches across. Like many desert residents, Fennecs are opportunistic feeders. They consume eggs of birds and reptiles, rodents, and reptiles themselves, as well as a large number of insects.
Interestingly, the Fennec fox’s paws are much more similar to the Arctic foxes than any other fox species. They’re large and fur-covered, which protect them from the blisteringly-hot sand, rather than the frigid snow and ice.
Atlas zu der Reise im nordlichen Afrika. Eduard Ruppell, 1926.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1u158sJG31qk931ho1_500.jpg)
Canis Zorda [now Vulpes zerda] - Fennec Fox
The Fennec fox is indigenous to Northern Africa, especially around Morocco, but is common in zoos around the world. Their large ears dissipate the heat of the desert, and their thick fur keeps them warm during the surprisingly-cold nights of the Sahara. They’re the smallest canid in the world, and often weigh less than 3 lbs as adults. Despite their tiny size, their ears can reach up to six inches across. Like many desert residents, Fennecs are opportunistic feeders. They consume eggs of birds and reptiles, rodents, and reptiles themselves, as well as a large number of insects.
Interestingly, the Fennec fox’s paws are much more similar to the Arctic foxes than any other fox species. They’re large and fur-covered, which protect them from the blisteringly-hot sand, rather than the frigid snow and ice.
Atlas zu der Reise im nordlichen Afrika. Eduard Ruppell, 1926.
