Monkshood

• Type: Plant, Potion Ingredient
• Aliases: Wolfsbane, Aconite
• Properties: Highly poisonous, primary ingredient in the Wolfsbane Potion

Monkshood is a flowering plant with highly poisonous properties. In his first Potions lesson, Professor Severus Snape establishes that Monkshood and Wolfsbane are the same plant, which also goes by the name Aconite. While its physical appearance is not described in the novels, its leaves and roots are known to be used in potion-making. All parts of the plant are poisonous and must be handled with extreme care. The plant is toxic to both wizards and Muggles. The flowers of the real-world plant, from which the magical version derives its name and properties, are typically purple and are noted for their resemblance to a monk's cowl. (Pottermore)

Monkshood is a powerful and dangerous potion ingredient, primarily known for its use in the Wolfsbane Potion.

• Wolfsbane Potion: This is the plant's most significant magical application. As a key ingredient in the Wolfsbane Potion, it helps a werewolf retain their human mind during the transformation into a wolf. While the transformed individual still becomes a wolf, they are rendered harmless and simply wait out the full moon in a quiescent state. The potion is noted by Remus Lupin to be very complex to brew, and the ingredients are expensive.
• Poison: Given its highly toxic nature, Monkshood can be used as a potent poison on its own or as an ingredient in poisonous concoctions. During the introduction to his subject, Severus Snape implies its dangerous potential when quizzing Harry Potter.

Monkshood is introduced early in the series and plays a significant role in the background of a major character.

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: Severus Snape uses a question about Monkshood to intimidate Harry Potter during his first Potions class. He asks, “What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?” Hermione Granger knows the answer: “They are the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite.” This moment establishes Snape's deep knowledge, his immediate dislike of Harry, and Hermione's academic brilliance.
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: The plant's properties become central to the plot through its use in the Wolfsbane Potion. Severus Snape brews this difficult potion for Professor Remus Lupin every month, allowing Lupin to safely manage his lycanthropy and teach at Hogwarts. Lupin's failure to take the potion before the climax of the story—a result of his shock at seeing Peter Pettigrew on the Marauder's Map—leads to his uncontrolled transformation and the subsequent escape of Pettigrew.

The three names for the plant are derived from real-world etymology and folklore, reflecting its properties and appearance.

• Monkshood: This name comes from the shape of the plant's flower, whose upper sepal is shaped like a hood or cowl, resembling those worn by monks.
• Wolfsbane: This name has historical roots in the belief that the plant's poison was potent enough to kill wolves. It was supposedly used on arrowheads or in bait for this purpose, directly connecting to its magical use in a potion for werewolves.
• Aconite: This is the plant's more scientific or formal name, derived from its Greek name, akoniton.

J.K. Rowling's use of Monkshood is a clear example of her integration of authentic real-world herbology and folklore into the magical world. The plant's real poisonous nature and its historical association with wolves provide a grounded basis for its magical use in the story. In the LEGO Harry Potter video games, Monkshood appears as a collectible ingredient found in various levels, often in outdoor or greenhouse areas. (video game)