The green links below add additional plants to the comparison table. Blue links lead to other Web sites.
enable glossary links
Delphinium leucophaeum

pale larkspur, white rock larkspur

Photo is of parent taxon

Nuttall's larkspur, upland larkspur

Stems

30-60 cm.

40-70 cm.

Flowers

sepals white or light yellow, spurs 9-11 mm;

lower petal blades 4-6 mm.

sepals blue or bluish purple, spurs 10-13 mm;

lower petal blades 4.5-6.5 mm.

2n

= 16.

= 16.

Delphinium nuttallii subsp. ochroleucum

Delphinium nuttallii subsp. nuttallii

Phenology Flowering late spring. Flowering late spring–early summer.
Habitat Rock outcrops, rocky meadows Rock outcrops, rocky meadows
Elevation 50-100 m (200-300 ft) 20-300 m (100-1000 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
OR
[WildflowerSearch map]
from FNA
OR; WA
[BONAP county map]
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.)

Source FNA vol. 3. FNA vol. 3.
Parent taxa Ranunculaceae > Delphinium > sect. Diedropetala > subsect. Grumosa > Delphinium nuttallii Ranunculaceae > Delphinium > sect. Diedropetala > subsect. Grumosa > Delphinium nuttallii
Sibling taxa
D. nuttallii subsp. nuttallii, D. nuttallii subsp. ochroleucum
D. nuttallii subsp. ochroleucum
Synonyms D. menziesii var. (ß) ochroleucum, D. leucophaeum
Name authority (Nuttall) M. J. Warnock: Phytologia 78: 98. (1995) unknown
Web links