山地乌头 shan di wu tou

Rhizome unknown. Stem ca. 1.2 m tall, ca. 8 mm in diam., basally nearly glabrous, apically sparsely spreading yellowish pubescent. Basal leaves withered at anthesis, and proximal cauline leaves long petiolate; petiole 17--20 cm, sparsely retrorse pubescent; leaf blade orbicular-reniform, ca. 14 × 22 cm, abaxially sparsely pubescent at veins, adaxially glabrous, 3-parted; central lobe rhombic, 3-fid at middle, apex acute, several lobulate and irregularly triangular-dentate at margin; lateral lobes obliquely flabellate, unequally 2-fid. Inflorescence ca. 25 cm, many flowered; rachis and pedicels densely spreading yellowish pubescent; basal bracts 3-fid, others linear-lanceolate to linear. Pedicels 0.8--2 cm, with 2 bracteoles at middle or basal part; bracteoles linear, 4--6 mm. Sepals yellow, abaxially sparsely pubescent; lower sepals ca. 1.1 cm; lateral sepals ca. 1 cm; upper sepal cylindric, ca. 1.5 cm high, ca. 4 mm in diam., shortly beaked, lower margin 1--1.3 cm. Petals subequaling upper sepals, glabrous; lip linear, conspicuous; spur slightly curved, subequaling lip. Stamens glabrous; filaments entire. Carpels 3; ovary glabrous. Fl. Aug.

Wet places in valleys; ca. 2300 m. Xinjiang [Kazakhstan].

Further study is necessary to determine the identity of Aconitum wangyedianense Y. Z. Zhao (Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin 3(1): 159. 1983), which may be synonymous with this taxon.