Aconitum ferox Wallich ex Seringe in Mus. Helv. 1: 160, t. 15, ff. 43 - 44. 1823; Hook. f. & Thomson in Fl. Brit. India 1: 28. 1872, p. p.

Herbs, biennial; stems erect, 1 - 2 m high, puberulous, leafy. Leaves palmately 5-fid, 8 - 15 cm in diam.; lobes 5, ovate, wedge-shaped, acuminate, deeply incised. Racemes 15 - 30 cm long, simple or sparingly branched below, tomentose, many-flowered; lower bracts lobed; upper entire; bracteoles linear; pedicels up to 5 cm long, thickened towards apex. Flowers 2 - 3 cm long, blue; uppermost sepal 2 - 2.5 x 0.8 - 1 cm, longer than high with short acute beak; upper lateral sepals ovate, ca 10 x 3 mm. Petal heads somewhat S-shaped, ca 6 mm long; spur recurved. Follicles 5, finely hairy.

Fl. & Fr. Aug. - Nov.

Distrib. India: Moist forests, amongst shrubs, 2100 - 3800 m. Sikkim.

Nepal and Bhutan.

Notes. Tubers used for poisoning arrows and as a medicine for its action as narcotic and sedative.

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