Delphinium bicolor

Nuttall

J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 7: 10. 1834.

Common names: Flathead larkspur low larkspur little larkspur
IllustratedEndemic
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 3.

Stems 10-40 (-70) cm; base often reddish, glabrous to puberulent. Leaves mostly on proximal 1/3 of stem; basal leaves (0-) 2-7 at anthesis; cauline leaves 3-6 at anthesis; petiole 0.3-8 cm. Leaf-blade round, 1-4 × 1.5-7 cm, glabrous to puberulent; ultimate lobes 3-19, width 1-8 mm (basal), 1-3 mm (cauline). Inflorescences 3-12 (-22) -flowered; pedicel 1-4 (-8) cm, ± puberulent; bracteoles 2-7 (-17) mm from flowers, green, sometimes white-margined, lanceolate, 4-6 (-8) mm, puberulent. Flowers: sepals dark blue, puberulent, lateral sepals usually spreading, 16-21 × 6-12 mm, spurs straight to gently decurved, ascending 0-40° above horizontal, 13-23 mm; lower petal blades covering stamens, 7-12 mm, clefts 0.1-3 mm; hairs sparse, short, mostly on inner lobes below junction of blade and claw, white or yellow. Fruits (12-) 16-22 mm, 4-4.5 times longer than wide, usually puberulent. Seeds often winged; seed-coat cells with surfaces ± smooth.

Distribution

Alta., B.C., Sask., Idaho, Mont., N.Dak., Nebr., S.Dak., Wyo.

Discussion

Subspecies 2 (2 in the flora).

Delphinium bicolor is closely related to D. glareosum; it differs in its wider-lobed cauline leaves, shallower petal clefts, and narrower fruits.

The Gosiute consider this plant to be poisonous (D. E. Moerman 1986, subspecies not specified).

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Sepals (especially in fresh material) dark blue to purple; cleft in lower petals 2 mm or less; soils not derived from limestone. Delphinium bicolor subsp. bicolor
1 Sepals (especially in fresh material) bright dark blue; cleft in lower petals at least 2 mm; soils derived from limestone. Delphinium bicolor subsp. calcicola
... more about "Delphinium bicolor"
Michael J. Warnock +
Nuttall +
usually larger +
glabrous +  and puberulent +
narrowed +
expanded +
Delphinium sect. Bicoloria +
straight +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
smaller +
subopposite-subalternate +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br />) +
lanceolate +
minute +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (?) +  and 0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (?) +
globose;cylindric +
elongate +
0.01 cm0.1 mm <br />1.0e-4 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
Flathead larkspur +, low larkspur +  and little larkspur +
Alta. +, B.C. +, Sask. +, Idaho +, Mont. +, N.Dak. +, Nebr. +, S.Dak. +  and Wyo. +
sessile +  and pedicellate +
showy +  and inconspicuous +
1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br /> (1.6 cm16 mm <br />0.016 m <br />) +
1.6 cm16 mm <br />0.016 m <br /> (2.2 cm22 mm <br />0.022 m <br />) +
sessile +  and aggregate +
curved-cylindric +
yellow;white +
3-12(-22)-flowered +
axillary +  and terminal +
1.6 cm16 mm <br />0.016 m <br /> (2.1 cm21 mm <br />0.021 m <br />) +
less ovate +  and elliptic +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (1.8 cm18 mm <br />0.018 m <br />) +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
glabrous +  and puberulent +
whorled +, opposite +  and alternate +
cauline +  and basal +
reduced +
lacerate;crenate +
clawed +, 2-lobed +, ovate +  and plane +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br />) +
palmate +  and pinnate +
incised;toothed;incised;toothed;entire +
smaller +
4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br /> (8 cm80 mm <br />0.08 m <br />) +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br /> (1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br />) +
distinct +
conspicuous +
spurred +, funnel--shaped +, cup-shaped +  and plane +
reduced +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (8 cm80 mm <br />0.08 m <br />) +
J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia +
2-100-flowered +
5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br /> (40 cm400 mm <br />0.4 m <br />) +
braided +  and 2-9-branched +
30 cm300 mm <br />0.3 m <br /> (40 cm400 mm <br />0.4 m <br />) +
tuberlike +
10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br /> (30 cm300 mm <br />0.3 m <br />) +
diffuse-fibrous +
dark-brown +  and black +
0.16 cm1.6 mm <br />0.0016 m <br /> (0.29 cm2.9 mm <br />0.0029 m <br />) +
obpyramidal +
0.07 cm0.7 mm <br />7.0e-4 m <br /> (0.19 cm1.9 mm <br />0.0019 m <br />) +
not persistent +
distinct +
3 +  and 6 +
not +  and veined +
W2 +, Illustrated +  and Endemic +
straight +
ascending +  and decurved +
1.3 cm13 mm <br />0.013 m <br /> (2.3 cm23 mm <br />0.023 m <br />) +
40 cm400 mm <br />0.4 m <br /> (70 cm700 mm <br />0.7 m <br />) +
10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br /> (40 cm400 mm <br />0.4 m <br />) +
persistent +
Delphinium bicolor +
Delphinium subsect. Bicoloria +
species +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (2.4 cm24 mm <br />0.024 m <br />) +
herbaceous +  and woody +