Scientific Family
Ranunculaceae
Other common names
blue-weed
friar's cap
western monkshood
aconite
wolfbane
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
3 to 7 feet
Riparian
Yes
A tall, leafy, tuberous plant with usually erect, stout stems but sometimes are weak and reclining. Has showy spiked flowers. If ingested, very poisonous to livestock and humans.
Perennial herb with tuberous roots and tall leafy stems. Alternate leaves are simple or deeply palmate, smooth or slightly hairy. Very irregular perfect flowers are borne in loose terminal racemes; pale to dark blue in color.
Habitat
Appears along mountain streams, in meadows and in rich forests. Adapted to fine, medium and coarse textured soils. Prefers moist soil conditions in shady areas.
Plant Community
Riparian
Montane Conifer Forest
Low elevation
5000
High elevation
9500
Flower Characteristics
Occasionally white. Appears in a raceme cluster with each flower 1-1/4 inches in length. Has 5 sepals that resemble petals having an upper sepal forming a hood, 2 oval side sepals and 2 narrow bottom sepals. The petals are hidden under the hood.
Flower color
Dark blue to bluish-purple
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
To 8 inches wide. Palmate shape is divided into 3 to 5 divisions.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Dark green
Leaf shape
Palmate
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruit appears as follicles about 3/4 inch long.
Fruit type
Pod
Fruit color
Black
Seeds are black and less than 1/16 inch long.