It comprises 4 genera[1] found in Eurasia, North America, and Africa.

In most species, the inner petals, which are reduced[9] and completely enclosed by the sepal whorl, have a pair of nectar spurs that force pollinators to move back and forth to get nectar from both spurs.

[3] Flowers have varying numbers of carpels: 3 in Staphisagria, 3–5 in Aconitum, 6–13 in Gymnaconitum, 1 in Delphinium subg.

Additionally, the flowers are herkogamous: the anthers and stigma are spatially separated.

[3] Before the 21st century, the tribe Delphinieae included the genera Aconitum L., Delphinium L., Consolida (DC.)

[9] It is estimated that Staphisagria diverged from the rest of the Delphinieae tribe about 32.5 million years ago during the Oligocene.