Stem 0.7--1.3 m tall, puberulent proximally, glabrous or subglabrous distally. Leaf blade ca. 10 cm wide, base cordate; primary lobes separate for at least 60% of blade radius; central lobe broadly rhombic, 3-parted, distally few lobulate, apex acute; ultimate lobules lanceolate; proximal leaves withered. Raceme to 20 cm, 10--20-flowered, puberulent and yellow glandular puberulent; bracts linear. Pedicels 1--1.5 cm; bracteoles distal, lanceolate or lanceolate-linear, 5--10 mm. Sepals purple-blue, abaxially sparsely puberulent and yellow glandular puberulent; spur cylindric-subulate, 1.3--1.5 cm, base 2--3 mm in diam.; other sepals 0.8--1.5 cm. Petals obtuse, glabrous. Staminode limb ovate, 2-lobed, yellowish barbate. Filaments glabrous. Carpels 3, glabrous. Fl. Jul--Aug.

Delphinium elatum var. elatum occurs in Europe.

* Grassy slopes; 1900--2100 m. N Xinjiang (Altay Shan).