Aconitum columbianum (Western Monkshood)

8/15/11 Onion Valley, 9,200' elevation, Inyo National Forest, 

Independence Region, Eastern Sierra, Inyo County, CA

8/15/11 Onion Valley

 7/3/16 North Lake, Bishop region, Eastern Sierra, 

Inyo National Forest, Inyo County, CA

 7/8/00 Onion Valley

7/6/02 Onion Valley

8/15/04 Roadside across from meadow south of South Lake at 9,700', 
Bishop region, Inyo National Forest, Eastern Sierra, Inyo County, CA

LIFE LIST NOTES:

COMMON NAME: Western Monkshood

SPECIES: Aconitum columbianum

FAMILY: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)

LIFE LIST DATE: 7/8/2000

LOCATION: Onion Valley 9,200', Inyo National Forest (Independence region), Eastern Sierra, Inyo County, CA

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Treatment from The Jepson Manual (1993):

Plant 3–15(20) dm

Stem erect, less often reclining or twining above; upper axils (including inflorescence) with deciduous bulblets or not

Leaf 3–17 cm, 5–14 cm wide; deep lobes 3–5, wedge- to diamond-shaped, toothed to irregularly cut or lobed above middle

Inflorescence 5–55 cm, open

Flower: sepals deep bluish purple or white to yellow-green, upper 10–15(20) mm, beak 3–8 mm, lateral 8–18 mm, round to reniform, lower 7–12 mm, lanceolate to ovate; upper petals blue to whitish, spur < blade, lower petals 0

Fruit glabrous to puberulent, glandular or not

Ecology: Streambanks, moist areas, meadows, coniferous forest

Elevation: 600–2900 m.  

Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California (except North Coast), Cascade Range, High Sierra Nevada, Modoc Plateau, n East of Sierra Nevada (Sweetwater Mtns) 

Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, South Dakota, New Mexico

Flowering time: Jul–Aug

Synonyms: A. geranioides Greene, A. leibergii Greene 

Plants with bulblets (KR, n SNH) have been called var. howellii (A. Nelson & J.F. Macbr.) C.L. Hitchc. [A. hanseni Greene,  A. viviparum Greene]  

Horticultural information: WET, DRN: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18; DFCLT.