# Columbian Monkshood (*Aconitum columbianum*) Columbian Monkshood is a beautiful flower with tall spikes and hood-shaped blooms. Its bright blue and purple petals make it look like a little hat, and it grows in cool, moist places. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 5/5 · Extreme - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Columbian Monkshood](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Aconitum_columbianum_6017.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aconitum_columbianum_6017.JPG) ## Appearance The Columbian Monkshood stands tall with sturdy stems topped by deep blue to purplish-blue, sometimes white, flowers. Its distinctive blooms are helmet-shaped, resembling a monk's cowl, and grow in loose clusters along the upper stem. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ranunculales - **Family:** Ranunculaceae - **Genus:** Aconitum ## Interesting facts - Ancient hunters once used its potent toxins on arrows to hunt big game! - Even touching this beautiful plant can cause skin irritation for some people! - Its root looks like a tiny turnip but is the most dangerous part of the entire plant. - Only a few specific types of long-tongued bumblebees can reach the nectar deep inside its flowers. ## Special abilities - **Poison Power:** Columbian Monkshood has potent toxins that make it poisonous to deter animals from eating its leaves and flowers. - **Nectar Guides:** Columbian Monkshood has special patterns on its flowers that guide long-tongued bumblebees directly to its hidden nectar. - **Perfect Fit:** Columbian Monkshood has a unique hooded flower shape that perfectly fits specific bumblebees, ensuring excellent pollination. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 50-200 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Deadly - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Giant Bumblebee (*Bombus appositus*) — Visits and pollinates the deep flowers. - **Pollinates:** Yellow Bumblebee (*Bombus fervidus*) — One of the few species with a tongue long enough. - **Pollinates:** Western Bumblebee (*Bombus occidentalis*) — A key pollinator for this plant species. ## Traits - [Bell-Shaped Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/bell-shaped-flower): Bell-shaped flowers possess petals fused or arranged to form a cup-like or campanulate structure resembling a bell. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Toxic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/toxic): Toxic organisms contain substances that are poisonous and can cause adverse effects upon exposure. - [Poisonous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/poisonous): Poisonous organisms produce toxins that can cause harm when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through contact. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 5/5 · Extreme Do not touch or eat this flower, as it can be harmful. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Columbian Monkshood? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Columbian Monkshood? 50-200 cm ### How wide does Columbian Monkshood spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Columbian Monkshood? 2-3 cm ### When does Columbian Monkshood bloom? Summer ### Is Columbian Monkshood edible? No ### Is Columbian Monkshood toxic? Deadly ### What is Columbian Monkshood's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [AMK Ranch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/amk-ranch) — Wyoming, US · Historic Site - [Jenny Lake Boat Concession Facilities](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jenny-lake-boat-concession-facilities) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Jenny Lake Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jenny-lake-ranger-station-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/laurance-s-rockefeller-preserve) — Wyoming, US · Nature Reserve - [Little Tom Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/little-tom-mountain) — Montana, US · Nature Reserve - [Kianuko Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kianuko-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see Columbian Monkshood](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/columbian-monkshood) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Columbian Monkshood: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/columbian-monkshood)