白毛乌头 bai mao wu tou

Caudex to 3 cm, ca. 1 cm in diam. Stem erect or apically twining, ca. 90 cm, branched, spreading and retrorse pubescent, or sparsely villous. Proximal cauline leaves withered at anthesis, middle ones slightly long petiolate; petiole ca. 4 cm; leaf blade pentagonal, ca. 7.5 × 10 cm, both surfaces appressed pubescent, base broadly cordate, 3-sect; central segment subrhombic, apex acuminate, bipinnatipartite nearly to midvein; lobule linear or lanceolate-linear; lateral segments shortly stipitate, unequally 2-parted nearly to base. Inflorescence terminal on branches and stem, 2--7-flowered; rachis and pedicels densely retrorse pubescent; proximal bracts 3-fid, others linear-ovate. Pedicels 0.9--1.8 cm, with 2 bracteoles at middle; bracteoles linear, 2--3 mm. Sepals blue-purple, abaxially densely pubescent; lower sepals 0.8--1 cm; lateral sepals 1--1.3 cm; upper sepal high galeate, ca. 1.9 cm, lower margin slightly concave, 1--1.2 cm. Petals glabrous; limb 8--10 × 2.5--4 mm; lip 3--5 mm, slightly concave at apex; spur incurved, ca. 2 mm. Stamens glabrous; filaments entire. Carpels 5, sparsely pubescent distally. Fl. Sep. 2n = 16.

Forest margins, grasslands. E Jilin [Korea, Mongolia, Russia (Siberia)].

Alexander N. Luferov (pers. comm.) believes that the variability of this taxon lies within the range of that of Aconitum volubile .