紫花高乌头 zi hua gao wu tou

Aconitum excelsum Reichenbach, Monogr. Acon. t. 53. 1820.

Rhizome unknown. Stem ca. 85 cm tall, basally becoming glabrous, middle sparsely downward pubescent, apically with few glandular hairs. Basal leaf 1, withered at anthesis, and proximal cauline leaves long petiolate; petiole to 32 cm, leaf blade reniform or orbicular-reniform, to 10 × 20 cm, abaxially with erect yellowish hairs 0.8--1.2 mm at veins, adaxially sparsely appressed pubescent. Inflorescence ca. 12 cm; rachis and pedicels densely spreading and retrorse yellowish glandular pubescent. Pedicels 1.7--3 cm, below middle pedicel and rachis obtusely oblique upward; bracts leaflike, distal ones linear, distally with 2 bracteoles; bracteoles subulate, 3--7 mm. Sepals purple, adaxially sparsely yellowish glandular pubescent; lower sepals ca. 1 cm; lateral sepals ca. 1.1 cm; upper sepal cylindric, ca. 2.4 cm high, middle ca. 4 mm in diam., lower margin ca. 1.3 cm. Petals glabrous; lip linear, conspicuous; spur circinate, ca. 1 cm, ca. 3 × as long as lip. Stamens glabrous; filaments entire. Carpels 3; ovary glabrous or pubescent. Follicles 1--1.4 cm. Fl. Jul. 2n = 16.

Betula forests, ca. 1700 m. Heilongjiang, NW Liaoning [Mongolia, Russia (Siberia); Europe].