[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
- -
Columbia monkshood (var. columbianum) as seen from a pass between Tiffany Lake and Middle Tiffany Mountain, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest........July 28, 2018.
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 at left 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. The image at right shows Columbia monkshood blooming in a riparian area near the head of
Wilson Creek, just east of Forest Road 35, Okanogan-Wenatchee NF.....July 12, 2024.
Paul Slichter