Monkshood
Aconitum columbianum var. columbianum
The photo above shows a close-up of the very
attractive flower of monkshood as seen in damp meadows just north of Hellroaring
Creek where the Island Springs Trail crosses it..................July 17, 2005.
Bumblebees land on the lower lip of the flower, then clamber upwards to the
central part of the flower, between the 2 broad, lateral petals, in the process,
brushing the stamen to be dusted with pollen, as well as brusing the pistil,
dislodging pollen from a separate flower onto its stigma for pollination to
occur. I've not seen this plant at native plant nurseries, but it would make
a very attractive wildflower for the natural meadow garden. Plants arise to
well over a meter high, so it would be less appropriate for the rock garden.
A frontal view of the flower of monkshood.
Meadows along Hellroaring Creek along the Island Springs Trail #66.....................August
11, 2006.
The "three-pronged" fruit of the
monkshood. It can fairly easily be mistaken for the fruit of the larkspur (Delphiniums).
The photo above shows a close-up of the simple,
but palmately parted stem leaf of monkshood as seen in damp meadows just north
of Hellroaring Creek where the Island Springs Trail crosses it..................July
17, 2005.
Monkshood as seen along the Island Springs Trail...................August
11, 2006.
Paul Slichter