Aconitum liljestrandii Hand.-Mazz.

Caudex narrowly obconical, ca. 4 cm, ca. 1 cm in diam. Stem to 70 cm tall, apically sparsely spreading or retrorse pubescent. Proximal cauline leaves withered at anthesis, and middle ones long petiolate, petiole 2--7.5 cm, sparsely spreading pubescent; leaf blade orbicular-pentagonal, 4--5.5 × 4--8 cm, both surfaces nearly glabrous or sparsely pubescent at veins, 3-sect; central segment rhombic or ovate-rhombic, pinnately parted; ultimate lobes linear, 1--2.5 mm wide; lateral segments unequally 2-parted nearly to base. Inflorescence 12--20 cm, densely flowered; rachis and pedicels spreading white pubescent and yellowish glandular pubescent; proximal bracts leaflike, distal ones linear. Pedicels 1--3 cm, with 2 bracteoles at middle or above; bracteoles narrowly linear, 3.5--5 mm. Sepals blue-purple, abaxially glabrous, rarely sparsely pubescent; lower sepals narrowly elliptic or linear-lanceolate, 7--11 × 1--3.5 mm; lateral sepals 1.3--1.5 cm; upper sepal navicular or falcate, 1.5--1.7 cm from base to beak. Petals glabrous or sparsely pubescent; limb ca. 7 mm; lip ca. 5 mm; spur slightly decurved, ca. 1 mm. Stamens glabrous; filaments entire. Carpels 3 or 4, glabrous. Fl. Jul--Aug.

W Sichuan, E Xizang.

* Scrub, grassy slopes; 3800--4600 m.