Roots

Aconitum is a perennial with a tuberous root system. It consists of a conical tap root that is usually no more than 2 cm in diameter at its thickest point, and about 10 cm long. Each year a rhizome is produced from a lateral bud in the parent tuber, and a new tuber is formed which will have the bud for the next years plant. Often another stem tuber is produced in the late winter or early spring producing two new plants the next season (Culbreth 1927).

http://7song.com/photo?photo=240&q=Category:%20Medicinal&l=Aconitum-columbianum&g=Ranunculaceae 

Aconitum delphinifolium has a symbiotic relationship with vesicular arbuscular myccorrhizae which helps in the uptake of nutrients and water from the soil (Treu et al. 1995). The roots of Aconitum have the highest levels of the alkaloid aconitine, and are used in eastern medicine as a remedy for multiple conditions. However, the level of toxicity varies between species, and accidental poisoning is not uncommon (Chemistry 2014). 

Works Cited

7 song. "Monkshood." Northeast School of Botanical Medicine. June 13, 2006. http://7song.com/photo?photo=240&q=Category:%20Medicinal&l=Aconitum-columbianum&g=Ranunculaceae (accessed February 26, 2014).

Chemistry, American Association for Clinical. Monkshood. 2014. https://www.aacc.org/members/divisions/tdm/library/Pages/feb09-toxin.aspx (accessed February 26, 2014).

Culbreth, David. A Manual of Materia Medica and Pharmacology. Lea Brothers & Co., 1927.

Treu, R., G. Laursen, S. Stephenson, J. Landolt, and R. Densmore. "Mycorrhizae from Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska." Mycorrhiza, 1995: 21-29.

Water

Aconitum delphinifolium is found in northern climates and prefers moist well drained soils. It is a sun loving plant, and its leaves are hypostomatic to prevent water loss (Stanescu et al, 2009). In warmer climates it performs better with some shade since it does not tolerate heat or water stress very well. It is most often found in moist meadows, and along streams which have cool soil conditions (CYSIP).

http://www.pyreneanway.com/blog/2010/08/eyne-to-nuria-and-back/?lang=en

 Since Aconitum is a perennial that grows from rootstock, it grows rapidly in the spring after the snow melts when there are ample water conditions. If water stressed the bottom leaves are often shed (Drinkwater, 2009). This makes sense because these leaves are the largest, and lose the most water through transpiration. 

References

CYSIP. "Aconitum Delphinifolium : Northern Monkshood." Flora.dempstercountry.org. Central                     Yukon Species Inventory Project, n.d. Web. 5 Feb 2014.

Cracknell, Steve. "Eyne to Núria and Back." Pyreneanway.com. Wordpress, 20 Aug. 2010. Web. 24 Feb. 2014.

Drinkwater, Robyn. "Doff Your Hat." Botanics Stories. Edinburgh Botanics, 25 Sept. 2009. Web. 24 Feb. 2014.

Stanescu, I., C. Mardari, and C. Tanase. "Notes on the morpho-anatomy of Aconitum degenii gayer." Biologie Vegetala, 2009: 55-63.

Leaves

Aconitum delphinifolium is a deciduous perennial plant that grows rapidly in the spring using the nutrition stored in its roots, this allows it to fully develop its leaves before many other plants. Its leaves are palmately divided into usually 5 segments with each segment being again divided into multiple segments giving it a needlelike appearance. 

http://www.flora.dempstercountry.org/V.B.08.Ranunculaceae/Aco.delphi/Aco.delphi.pic4.jpg

The deeply divided leaf shape is a common characteristic of many plants growing in cold and arid environments. Possible adaptation to improve hydraulic efficiency?  They are alternately arranged with the lowest leaves being the largest (25 cm), and extend from the stem by long petioles. Upper leaves tend to be smaller (5cm) and are often attached directly to the stem lacking a petiole (CYSIP). 

http://analogicalplanet.com/Pages/ContentPages/Vascular%20plants2/AconitumDelphinifolium.html

This adaptation likely allows the plant to capture the most sunlight with the fewest amounts of leaves. All of the leaves tend to be hypostomatic with the majority of their stomates located on the bottom (Stanescu et al, 2009). The alkaloid aconitine is found in the leaves which may aid as a deterrent to herbivory. 

References

CYSIP. "Aconitum Delphinifolium : Northern Monkshood." Flora.dempstercountry.org. Central                     Yukon Species Inventory Project, n.d. Web. 5 Feb 2014.

Stanescu, I., C. Mardari, and C. Tanase. "Notes on the morpho-anatomy of Aconitum degenii gayer." Biologie Vegetala, 2009: 55-63.