Aconitum piepunense Hand.-Mazz.

Caudex obliquely conical, ca. 6 cm, ca. 1.2 cm in diam. Stem 1.1--1.8 m, branched or simple, basally glabrescent, apically retrorse pubescent, with leaves equally arranged along stem. Proximal cauline leaves withered at anthesis, and middle ones slightly long petiolate; petiole 2--5 cm, sparsely retrorse pubescent; leaf blade pentagonal, ca. 6.8 × 10 cm, abaxially glabrous, adaxially sparsely appressed pubescent, base broadly cordate, 3-parted; central lobe rhombic; lateral lobes obliquely flabellate, unequally 2-parted. Inflorescence terminal, 38--70 cm, many flowered; rachis and pedicels densely spreading yellowish pubescent, intermixed retrorse pubescent; proximal bracts leaflike, distal ones linear. Pedicels 1.5--7 cm, with 2 bracteoles at middle or above; bracteoles narrowly linear, 3.5--7 mm. Sepals blue, abaxially glabrous; lower sepals 1.2--1.4 cm; lateral sepals 1.2--1.5 cm; upper sepal galeate or high galeate, 1.5--2 cm high, shortly beaked, ca. 1.6 cm from base to beak, lower margin slightly concave. Petals glabrous, or sparsely pubescent; lip ca. 4 mm; spur incurved, ca. 1.2 cm. Stamens glabrous, sparsely pubescent; filaments usually entire, sometimes 2-denticulate. Carpels 5, glabrous, or ovary sparsely pubescent. Follicles 1--1.5 cm. Seeds ca. 3 mm. Fl. Jul--Aug. 2n = 16*, 32*.

NW Yunnan (Zhongdian Xian).

* Grassy slopes; 3000--3300 m.