Abstract: The seeds of Aconitum kusnezoffii Reichb. take three months to germinate after shedding. This is due to the fact that the embryo of A. kusnezoffii is not fully developed at the time of shedding, remaining in the stage of heart-shaped or early torpedo-shaped embryo. The germination of seed is epigeal, but in the first year the shoot apex remains in the soil and the short subterraneous stem hibernates with the thickened root-hypocotyl. In the following spring, the stem sprouts out and the axillary bud of the first year's radical leaf develops into a monkshood-tuber. The individual monkshood-tuber is monocarpic, each sprouts out one flowering stem and, at the same time, gives rise to one or sometimes more monkshood-tubers from the underground basal buds, thus, A. kusnezoffii may actually be considered as a “replaced biannial plant”.

Key words: Aconitum kusnezoffii, Seed, Seedling, Monkshood-tuber