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Delphinium leucophaeum

pale larkspur

Delphinium distichum

two-spike larkspur

Habit Sturdy, grey-puberulent perennial from fleshy roots, the stems 4-7 dm. tall.
Leaves

Basal and lower cauline leaves long-petiolate, the blades 4-6 cm. broad and divided nearly to the base into 3 segments, which are twice divided into broad segments; lower leaves abruptly transitional into mid-stem leaves, which are short-petiolate, very numerous and overlapping, and finely divided into linear segments.

Flowers

Inflorescence a many-flowered, spike-like raceme, the pedicels shorter than the calyx spur and strongly ascending;

sepals 5, bluish-purple with lighter streaks, cupped forward, 7-9 mm long, oblong, the spur 11-17 mm. long;

petals 4, small, the lower pair blue, lobed, the upper pair white;

stamens numerous;

pistils 3.

Fruits

Follicles 8-12 mm. long, erect, usually glandular.

Delphinium leucophaeum

Delphinium distichum

Flowering time May-June May-July
Habitat Bluffs, open ground, and moist lowland meadows where undisturbed. Vernally wet swales and meadows, in sagebrush or ponderosa pine forest.
Distribution
Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington, where known only from Lewis County in Washington; Lewis County, Washington to Willamette Valley, Oregon.
[WildflowerSearch map]
Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to Oregon, east to Montana and Wyoming.
[WildflowerSearch map]
Origin Native Native
Conservation status Endangered in Washington (WANHP) Not of concern
Sibling taxa
D. ajacis, D. basalticum, D. ×burkei, D. depauperatum, D. distichum, D. glareosum, D. glaucum, D. lineapetalum, D. menziesii, D. multiplex, D. nuttallianum, D. nuttallii, D. occidentale, D. stachydeum, D. sutherlandii, D. trolliifolium, D. viridescens, D. xantholeucum
D. ajacis, D. basalticum, D. ×burkei, D. depauperatum, D. glareosum, D. glaucum, D. leucophaeum, D. lineapetalum, D. menziesii, D. multiplex, D. nuttallianum, D. nuttallii, D. occidentale, D. stachydeum, D. sutherlandii, D. trolliifolium, D. viridescens, D. xantholeucum
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