Aconitum columbianum

(Monk’s Hood)

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Aconitum columbianum, Black Powder Pass, Summit Co. 4346

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Aconitum columbianum, Gore Pass, Grand Co. 2002/2014

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Aconitum columbianum, Peak 7 Breckenridge, Summit Co. 8185

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Aconitum columbianum, Black Powder Pass, Summit Co. 4353

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Aconitum columbianum, Mayflower Gulch, Summit Co. 4788

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Aconitum columbianum, Black Powder Pass, Summit Co. 1373

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Aconitum columbianum, Mayflower Gulch, Summit Co. 6727

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Leaf, Aconitum columbianum, Booth Falls Trail, Eagle Co. 4350

Scientific Name Aconitum columbianum USDA PLANTS Symbol ACCO4
Common Name Monk's Hood ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 18416
Family Ranunculaceae (Buttercup) SEINet
Reference
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Description Life zones and habitat: Foothills to subalpine (7200 to 12500 ft); moist areas in woodlands, meadows, wetlands, streamsides.
Plant: Erect perennial 1 to 5 feet tall, usually single, flexible and smooth stems.
Leaves: Up to 6 inches across, deeply divided into 3 to 5 jagged, toothed lobes, becoming smaller and fewer lobes upward; smooth to finely pubescent. Subspecies columbianum has no bulblets at the leaf/stem axils; whereas ssp. viviparum does.
Inflorescence: Deep purple flowers in open raceme (spike), each with showy sepals; petals hidden under the upper "hood" sepal.
Bloom Period: June to August.
References: "Guide to Colorado Wildflowers" by G.K. Guennel, "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, Jepson eFlora, and SEINet.
BONAP Distribution Map

Map Color Key
Colorado Status:
Native

© Tom Lebsack 2024

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