I am a hobby naturalist seeking to improve my understanding of plant identification in my local region. I started this post as a way of collecting my notes on Delphinium. I have seen that there are large numbers of Delphinium in the area that have not been identified to research grade and I was hoping to learn how to improve them. What I have learned is that they are challenging to identify and in some cases, scientists are still determining morphological descriptions and ranges. While the notes below my not be that useful, I will keep them and continue to add to them should I learn something new.
Resources for Delphinium
Delphinium anatomical features
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Roots and Bloom Structure of Cultivated Delphiniums has excellent diagrams. Even though it is focused on cultivated delphiniums, I think it is useful.
- Pedicel: thin stalk connecting flowers to stem. Pedicel angle may result in columnar (straight up and down) or pyramidal arrangement of blossoms
- Bracteoles: small reduced leaves on the pedicel behind the flower
- Sepals: have the appearance of outside “petals” of the flower
- Spur: tube-like extension from the back of the top sepal. This is present on all delphiniums and is useful for identification to genus.
- Petals: the true petals are smaller and at the center of the blossom. The two top petals are fused.
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Dissected leaves: lobed leaves. Note pointed or rounded tips and well as the width of the lobes. Note whether leaves are only basal or if some stem leaves are present.
Photo 1 source Photo 2 Source
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Range: All counties in Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
- Observations in Flora of the Yellowstone Ecosystem Project
- Observations with descriptions and discussion: June 8, 2018 AB Canada, June 9, 2018 Gallatin County, June 14, 2009 Gallatin County
- Identification Resources: Montana Field Guide, Saskatchewan Field Guide, eFloras, FNA
- Distinctive features: shorter than other local larkspur; rounded leaves dissected into thin linear segments, mostly basal. Upper petals white with blue markings. Distinguish from nuttallianum by noting presence of small cleft (< 2mm) in lower petals, also lower sepals longer than the others (thanks to @plachuff for providing help here).
Photo 1 source. Photo 2 Source
Delphinium geyeri (Geyer’s Larkspur, Plains Larkspur)
Photo source
Delphinium occidentale (duncecap larkspur, Subalpine Larkspur, Tall Mountain Larkspur)
Photo 1 source. Photo 2 Source
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Range: All counties in Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
- Observations in Flora of the Yellowstone Ecosystem Project
- Identification Resources: Montana Field Guide, Montana Plantlife, Burke Herbarium, JSTOR
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Occidentale is potentially confused with glaucum and glaucenscens because they are all tall, have similar shaped flowers and their range is in delays.
- Distinctive Features: Tall. More narrow/elongated blossoms. Traits that might distinguish occidentale from other tall larkspurs, such as glaucum are not fully agreed upon. Options include: pedicel length from mid inflorescence, follicle pubescence, and lower petal width.
Add note for glaucum and glaucescens.
Identification Workflows
Correct/Improve this guide
*Please comment below if you identify errors in this guide or if you have additional information that would make this guide more useful.
Posted on
October 29, 2022 01:09 AM
by
whitneybrook
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