[Aconites and Monkshoods: The Genus Aconitum in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Columbia Aconite, Columbia Monkshood, Columbian Monkshood, Monkshood

Aconitum columbianum ssp. columbianum

Synonyms: Aconitum columbianum ssp. pallidum, Aconitum columbianum var. bakeri, Aconitum columbianum var. columbianum, Aconitum columbianum var. ochroleucum, Aconitum columbianum var. pallidum, Aconitum geranioides, Aconitum leibergii, Aconitum mogollonicum

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Columbia monkshood (var. columbianum) as seen from a pass between Tiffany Lake and Middle Tiffany Mountain, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest........July 28, 2018.

Columbia Aconite, Columbia Monkshood: Aconitum columbianum ssp. columbianum (Synonyms: Aconitum columbianum ssp. pallidum, Aconitum columbianum var. bakeri, Aconitum columbianum var. columbianum, Aconitum columbianum var. ochroleucum, Aconitum columbianum var. pallidum, Aconitum geranioides, Aconitum leibergii, Aconitum mogollonicum)

The photo at right shows Aconitum columbianum var. columbianum as seen from subalpine meadows above Blue Sky, Hart Mt. National Antelope Refuge.......July 5, 1996.

Characteristics:

Monkshood is a beautiful wildflower with stems to one meter tall. The leaves are plamately-lobed, with the lobes being cleft or serrate. The deep blue flowers are arranged in a loose raceme, which may be as long as 50 cm. The flowers are uniquely shaped, with the upper sepal being both blue and helmet-shaped, and forming a hood which hides the upper 2 petals. The lower two petals are small or may be lacking.

Habitat:

Columbia monkshood is a plant of moist open woods and alpine meadows. It is often found along streambanks.

Range:

Columbia monkshood is generally found in mountainous areas from the Cascade Mts east, although it can be found in and west of the Cascade crest in southern Oregon.

The photo above shows a close-up of the flower of columbia monkshood (var. columbianum) as seen from Blue Sky, Hart Mt. National Antelope Refuge.......July 5, 1996.

Paul Slichter