monkshood, Aconitum columbianum subsp. columbianum

            monkshood, Aconitum columbianum subsp. columbianum, California, White Mountains, Cottonwood Basin, south fork of Cottonwood Creek, Fishlake Valley drainage, elevation 2873 m (9425 ft).

This subspecies of monkshood is found in wet places up to about 3500 meters (11500 feet) elevation throughout the Cordillera and interior of the western United States, extending shortly into southwestern Canada and northeastern Mexico.  Here in the White Mountains, it likes only the wettest sites with the most dependable water supplies.

The name monkshood comes from the exaggerated helmet-like or hooded shape of the upper flower part, which is actually one of the five strongly colored sepals.  The two true petals are much smaller and concealed inside the hood.  The flowers are pollinated mainly by bumblebees.

At a distance, the resemblance of monkshood plants to larkspurs (genus Delphinium) is striking, and indeed multiple lines of evidence show the two genera to be evolutionary sister lineages.  The flowers of larkspurs and monkshoods are at once strikingly similar and strikingly different.

Monkshoods are also known as aconites, and contain alkaloids that can be deadly poisonous (as do larkspurs).  Aconitum columbianum is reported to be one of the less toxic species, but all should be afforded utmost respect.

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Taken in: United States (show map)

Taken on: July 28, 2016

Tags:

Bishop

California

Ranunculaceae

Buttercup Family

Aconitum

Aconitum columbianum

Aconitum columbianum subsp. columbianum

angiosperm

dicot

plant

flowers

flower

blossom

bloom

wfgna

flora

wildflower

wildflowers

CNPSok

monkshood

subalpine

riparian

wetland

meadow

ESWild

streambanks

North America

Mono County

White Mountains

Cottonwood Basin

Cottonwood Creek

Great Basin

White Mountains Wilderness

Inyo National Forest

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest

White Mountain RNA

wilderness

July

summer

Olympus

EVOLT

E-510

Olympus E-510

JDM20162116

taxonomy:family=Ranunculaceae

taxonomy:genus=Aconitum

taxonomy:binomial=Aconitum columbianum

taxonomy:common=monkshood

taxonomy:trinomial=Aconitum columbianum columbianum

geo:alt=2873m

purple

blue

5petals

2petals

oddshaped

longcluster

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Sets appears in: • Best of 2016 • Flora of western United States more » • Flora of the White Mountains CA-NV • Wildflowers « less

Groups appears in: • Botany • Wildflower Field Guide, North America more » • Wildflowers • Wild flowers • California Wilderness Areas • Favorites: 125 • CaliFlora • Wetlands • Views: 5000 • Beautiful California • Blooming Beauty • The White-Inyo Mountains of California • RANUNCULACEAE —WILDFLOWERS — latin names required - read gui • Great Basin • Guide to California Wildflowers — TAG ALL IMAGES-guidelines! • National Forests • Identified plants directory - Botany group • California National Forests • California Wildflowers • * FLOWERS OF FLICKR (NO insects, seeds, b&w) • Native Plants of California • Wildflowers: Western Region US • Encyclopedia of Life Images • Wetland Plants of North America • Wildflowers of the world • *Earth *Nature *Life • World's Most Beautiful Wildflowers • North american Native Plants • FLOWERS-BEAUTY IN PHOTOGRAPHY • in explore • US Wildflowers « less

Camera: Olympus E-510, f/5.6, 1/250 sec, 42mm, ISO 200 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Olympus E-510
Aperture:	f/5.6
Exposure Time:	0.004 sec (1/250)
Focal Length:	42mm
ISO:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Auto, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Spot
White Balance:	Auto
Gain Control:	Low gain up
Contrast:	Low
Sharpness:	Soft
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	PaintShop Pro 14.00
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