Caudex conical, ca. 2 cm. Stem 40--70(--90) cm, branched or simple, retrorse pubescent. Proximal cauline leaves withered at anthesis, middle ones slightly long petiolate; petiole 4--14 cm; leaf blade orbicular-pentagonal, 4--6 × 5--7 cm, both surfaces sparsely pubescent, becoming glabrous, 3-sect; central segment rhombic, 2-sect; ultimate lobes linear, 1.8--3 mm wide; lateral segments obliquely flabellate, unequally 2-parted nearly to base. Inflorescence terminal, 4--11-flowered; rachis and pedicels densely spreading yellow pubescent and retrorse white pubescent; proximal bracts leaflike, others 3-fid or linear. Pedicels 2--5.5 cm, with 2 bracteoles near middle; bracteoles oblong to linear, 5--12 × 0.4--5 mm, sometimes bracteoles of lowermost pedicel 3-fid. Sepals blue-purple, adaxially yellow pubescent; lower sepals 1.2--1.5 cm; lateral sepals 1.5--2 cm; upper sepal high galeate, 1.7--2.4 cm high, shortly beaked, lower margin 1.5--2 cm. Petaline claw sparsely pubescent; lip 4--5 mm, slightly concave; spur decurved, ca. 4 mm. Stamens glabrous; filaments entire. Carpels 5, densely yellow pubescent. Fl. Aug--Oct.

The reader may wish to refer to the following paper: Zhang, F. M., W. L. Chen, Q. E. Yang & S. Ge. 2005. Genetic differentiation and relationship of populations in the Aconitum delavayi complex (Ranunculaceae) and their taxonomic implications. Pl. Syst. Evol. 254: 39–48.

* Alpine grasslands, forests; 3700--3800 m. NW Yunnan.