Delphinium nuttallii subsp. ochroleucum(synonym of Delphinium leucophaeum) |
Delphinium alpestre |
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pale larkspur, white rock larkspur |
alpine larkspur, Colorado larkspur |
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Stems | 30-60 cm. |
5-25 cm; base green, puberulent. |
Leaves | blade round to pentagonal, 1.5-5 × 2-5 cm, puberulent; ultimate lobes 3-15, width 2-11 mm. |
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Inflorescences | 2-8-flowered; pedicel 1-4 cm, puberulent; bracteoles 1-3 mm from flowers, green, linear-lanceolate, 6-10 mm, puberulent. |
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Flowers | sepals white or light yellow, spurs 9-11 mm; lower petal blades 4-6 mm. |
sepals dark blue, apex rounded, puberulent, lateral sepals spreading to forward pointing, 11-14 × 5-7 mm, spurs straight except usually slightly down-curved at apex, varying from 20° above to 20° below horizontal, 8-12 mm; lower petal blades ± covering stamens, 4-6 mm, clefts 2-4 mm; hairs sparse, mostly near base of cleft, centered on inner lobes, white. |
Fruits | 7-12 mm, 3.5-4 times longer than wide, puberulent. |
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Seeds | unwinged; seed coat cells elongate, surface roughened. |
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2n | = 16. |
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Delphinium nuttallii subsp. ochroleucum |
Delphinium alpestre |
|
Phenology | Flowering late spring. | Flowering mid-late summer. |
Habitat | Rock outcrops, rocky meadows | Exposed talus slopes on high peaks |
Elevation | 50-100 m (200-300 ft) | (3400-)3800 m and above ((11200-)12500 ft and above) |
Distribution |
OR
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CO; NM |
Discussion | Of conservation concern. The range of morphologic features of Delphinium nuttallii subsp. ochroleucum (D. leucophaeum) is almost completely encompassed within that of D. nuttallii subsp. nuttallii. Sepal color is the only feature consistently separating the two subspecies. Were it not for the fact that any given population typically has plants of only one flower color, a rank of forma would be more appropriate. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Of conservation concern. Delphinium alpestre is very similar to D. ramosum, possibly divergent from that taxon only since the most recent glaciation of North America, during which ancestors of D. alpestre might have survived on peaks above the ice, while ancestors of D. ramosum survived in valleys below the ice. Since glaciation, D. ramosum apparently has migrated upslope, near but not adjoining populations of D. alpestre. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 3. | FNA vol. 3. |
Parent taxa | Ranunculaceae > Delphinium > sect. Diedropetala > subsect. Grumosa > Delphinium nuttallii | Ranunculaceae > Delphinium > sect. Diedropetala > subsect. Exaltata |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | D. menziesii var. (ß) ochroleucum, D. leucophaeum | D. ramosum var. alpestre |
Name authority | (Nuttall) M. J. Warnock: Phytologia 78: 98. (1995) | Rydberg: Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 29: 146. (1902) |
Web links |