Aconitum hookeri Stapf in Ann. R. Bot. Gard. Calc. 10: 147. 1905; Lauener in Notes R. Bot. Gard. Edinb. 26: 9. 1964. A. pulchellum Hand.-Mazz. in Anz. Akad Wiss. Wien, Math. Nat. Kl. 62: 219. 1925.

Herbs, biennial; roots paired, tuberous; stems erect, low, 5 - 20 cm high, simple or branched, with long white or golden hairs. Leaves few, arising from hypogeous base of stem; upper leaves 1 - 2, reduced; petioles slender; lamina of lower leaves orbicular- cordate or reniform, 3- to 5-partite up to base, acutely toothed. Inflorescence a short lax few-flowered raceme, in some plants solitary; flowers 2.5 - 3 cm long. Sepals dark blue to blue-purple, caducous; uppermost sepal helmet-shaped. Petals and filaments dark blue, hispid or glabrous; petal head 4 - 6 mm across, dorsally pouched. Carpels 5, densely villous. Follicles 5, erect, oblong, truncate, densely hairy. Seeds smooth.

Fl. Aug.

Distrib. India: E. Himalayas, alpine meadows, open rocky slopes amongst Juniper scrubs, 4200 - 4800 m. Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

Nepal, Bhutan and China (Tibet).