Columbia Aconite, Columbia Monkshood, Columbian Monkshood, Monkshood: Aconitum columbianum ssp. columbianum (Synonyms: Aconitum columbianum ssp. pallidum, Aconitum columbianum var. columbianum, Aconitum columbianum var. ochroleucum, Aconitum geranioides, Aconitum noveboracense, Aconitum uncinatum ssp. noveboracense)

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).

Inflorescence of Columbia monkshood as seen from wetlands along the Bird Lake Trail, Bird Creek Meadows, Mount Adams, Washington...........August 1, 2014.

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.