Caudex unknown. Stem ca. 55 cm, apically flexuous, simple, sparsely pubescent, ca. 12-leaved. Proximal cauline leaves withered at anthesis, middle leaves long petiolate or nearly so; petiole 3--5 cm, sparsely pubescent; leaf blade pentagonal, ca. 2.7 × 4.5 cm, abaxially glabrous, adaxially sparsely appressed pubescent or subglabrous, base deeply cordate, 3-parted; central lobe rhombic, apex acute, 3-lobed; lateral lobes obliquely flabellate, unequally 2-fid. Inflorescence terminal, ca. 9.5 cm, 6-flowered; rachis and pedicels glabrous; bracts leaflike. Pedicels 1.5--2.8 cm, with 2 bracteoles at middle; bracteoles usually linear, rarely 3-lobed, 3--5 mm, glabrous. Sepals pale red-purple, abaxially glabrous; upper sepal galeate, ca. 1.7 cm high, 1.5--2 cm from base to beak; lower sepals narrowly obovate or lanceolate, ca. 1.5 cm; lateral sepals obliquely obovate, ca. 1.6 cm, adaxially sparsely pilose. Petals ca. 2.1 cm, glabrous; claw ca. 1.3 cm, slightly geniculate at apex; lip ca. 5 mm; spur circinate, ca. 7 mm. Stamens glabrous, ca. 8 mm; filaments 2-denticulate or entire. Carpels 4, glabrous.

One of us (Kadota) believes that this species is the same as Aconitum stapfianum .

* Grasslands; ca. 4500 m. Xizang (near Nanjiabawa Shan).