Aconitum brachypodum Diels

This species was listed by Feng (in Fu & Jin, China Pl. Red Data Book 1: 518--519. 1992) as requiring protection and propagation because of extensive harvesting of the rhizomes for medicinal purposes. The root caudex is poisonous and used as an antipyretic and in traditional medicine.

Caudex carrot-shaped, 5.5--7 cm, 5--6.5 mm in diam. Stem 40--80 cm, simple or branched, sparsely retrorse and appressed pubescent, with leaves crowded. Proximal cauline leaves withered at anthesis, middle leaves shortly petiolate; petiole 0.8--3.2 cm; leaf blade ovate or broadly triangular-ovate, 3.5--5.8 × 3.6--8 cm, both surfaces glabrous or abaxially sparsely pubescent at veins, 3-sect; central segment broadly rhombic, base becoming narrow, long stipitate, subduplicato-pinnatisect; ultimate lobes linear, (1--)1.5--3 mm wide; lateral segments obliquely rhombic, unequally 2-fid to base. Inflorescence 7- to many flowered; rachis and pedicels densely curved and appressed pubescent, or rachis spreading pubescent; bracts leaflike. Pedicels 1--1.5 cm, with 2 bracteoles at middle or above; bracteoles broadly linear, 5--9 × 1.5--3.5 mm, or lanceolate-linear, ca. 3 × 0.8 mm, 2- or 3-lobed, sometimes undivided. Sepals purple-blue, abaxially pubescent; lower sepals 1.3--1.6 cm; lateral sepals 1.5--1.8 cm; upper sepal galeate or galeate-navicular, 2--3 cm high, clawed, shortly beaked. Petals glabrous; limb ca. 7 mm; spur incurved, shorter. Stamens sparsely pubescent; filaments entire or 2-denticulate. Carpels 5 or 3, densely oblique upward, yellow villous or appressed white pubescent. Fl. Sep--Oct.

Sichuan, Yunnan.

* Grassy slopes, mountains; 2800--4300 m.