Delphinium nuttallii

Delphinium nuttallii , Commonly called Upland larkspur, Low larkspur, or Yellow pine larkspur. A flowering perennial in the Buttercup family.

Synonyms:

• Delphinium nelsonii Greene,
• Subspecies Delphinium nuttallii A. Gray ssp. nuttallii – upland larkspur P
• Subspecies Delphinium nuttallii A. Gray ssp. ochroleucum (Nutt.) Warnock – upland larkspur P

Taxonomy

• Kingdom Plantae – Plants
• Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
• Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
• Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
• Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
• Subclass Magnoliidae
• Order Ranunculales
• Family Ranunculaceae – Buttercup family
• Genus Delphinium L. – larkspur
• Species Delphinium nuttallii A. Gray – upland larkspur

Description

General: Crisp-puberulent, eglandular perennial from small, globose, fleshy roots, the single stems 3-6 dm. tall. Leaves: Leaves long-petiolate, evenly distributed, the blades up to 10 cm. broad, 3-4 times dissected into narrowly lanceolate or linear segments. Flowers: Inflorescence simple to compound, the racemes spike-like above, the lower pedicels exceeding the numerous, crowded flowers; sepals 5, deep bluish-purple, 7-12 mm. long, slightly spreading, with a conspicuous median, pubescent, greenish band; spur equal to the sepals; petals 4, small, the lower pair deep purplish-blue, shallowly cleft, the upper pair light blue; stamens numerous; pistils 3. Fruit: Follicles about 15 mm. long, slightly bent.

Bloom Period

May through June.

Distribution

Pierce and eastern Grays Harbor Counties, Washington, south to the Columbia River Gorge and Clackamas County, Oregon.

Habitat

Ecological Setting-Gravelly outwash prairies and basaltic cliffs.

Uses

Landscaping-Not very easy to grow, but looks like it will reseed itself.

Propagation

Extended cold, moist stratification is needed. Cool spring temperatures may also be necessary. In trials at the Pullman PMC, no germination occurred without stratification and no seed germinated after 30 days cold, moist stratification. Seed sown in late December and left outside did not germinate the first season, but germinated well after a second winter. Seed sown outdoors in November will germinate the following spring. Seedlings which germinated outside died when placed in the greenhouse.

Seed

Abbreviation: DENU

Seed sample from: 2011

Average Measurement: 1.8 x 1.2 x 0.8

Measurement Range: L: 1.25 – 2.1, W: 1 – 2, D: 0.5 – 1.2

Features

Shape: Usually broader at hilum end, bud seeds variable. Seeds in baggy seed coat that sometimes makes seeds appear winged around the edges.

Color: Inner seed dark brown to black, seedcoat white and transparent.

Surface: Seed coat finely longitudinally striate and glossy.

Could be confused with: Delphinium menziesii.

Latitudinal Cross Section: obovate

Longitudinal Cross Section: semi circular