山西乌头 shan xi wu tou

Aconitum smithii var. tenuilobum W. T. Wang.

Caudex narrowly conical or carrot-shaped, 3--3.4 cm. Stem 38--80 cm, simple or branched, apically spreading pubescent, with leaves equally arranged along stem. Proximal cauline leaves withered at anthesis, middle ones slightly long petiolate; petiole 5--6 cm, glabrous; leaf blade orbicular-pentagonal, 5.2--6.5 × 7--10 cm, both surfaces glabrous, 3-sect; central segment rhombic or cuneate-rhombic, 3-fid to middle, ultimate lobes narrowly ovate to linear, 1.5--3 or 3.5--5 mm; lateral segments unequally 2-parted. Inflorescence terminal, 3--7-flowered; rachis and pedicels densely spreading yellowish pubescent; basal bracts leaflike, others linear. Pedicels 0.5--2 cm, distally with 2 bracteoles; bracteoles linear, 3--4 mm. Sepals blue-purple, abaxially sparsely pubescent; lower sepals ca. 0.8 cm; lateral sepals 1.3--1.6 cm; upper sepal navicular-galeate, 1.7--2.1 cm from base to beak, lower margin arciform-curved. Petals glabrous; lip 6 mm, slightly concave; spur incurved, globose. Stamens glabrous; filaments entire. Carpels 3 or 4, glabrous or ovary sparsely pubescent abaxially. Fl. Aug--Sep.

* Grassy slopes; 2000--2700 m. W Hebei, Shanxi.