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Species Details
Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium Read more about this collection »
LeavesBasal leaves rounded, 1-4 cm long, 1.5-7 cm wide, dissected; stem leaves alternate, 3 to 4 times dissected into linear segments
FlowersTerminal raceme, 3- to 12- flowered; bracts linear, green, sometimes white-margined, hairy; flowers bilaterally symmetric; sepals 5, distinct, 16-21 mm long, 6-12 mm wide, petalloid, blue-purple, slightly hairy; one sepal modified into a spur, covering the inner fused petals; petals 4, upper 2 united, clawed, spurred, enclosed in upper sepal, white or pale blue, purple-lined; lower petals 7-12 mm, 2-lobed; stamens 25 to 40, filaments wide, narrowing near anther, notched, blue-tinged; pistils 3 to 5, ovaries superior
Fruits and SeedsAggregate of follicles, 16-22mm long, 4 to 4.5 times longer than wide, slightly hairy; seeds reversely pyramidal, 2 mm long, dark brown to black, winged, smooth
Scientific Name
Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
Common Name
little larkspur
General Description
Perennial herb; stems simple, 10-70 cm tall, woody, slightly hairy especially higher on the plant, bases red
Leaves
Basal leaves rounded, 1-4 cm long, 1.5-7 cm wide, dissected; stem leaves alternate, 3 to 4 times dissected into linear segments
Flowers
Terminal raceme, 3- to 12- flowered; bracts linear, green, sometimes white-margined, hairy; flowers bilaterally symmetric; sepals 5, distinct, 16-21 mm long, 6-12 mm wide, petalloid, blue-purple, slightly hairy; one…
Terminal raceme, 3- to 12- flowered; bracts linear, green, sometimes white-margined, hairy; flowers bilaterally symmetric; sepals 5, distinct, 16-21 mm long, 6-12 mm wide, petalloid, blue-purple, slightly hairy; one sepal modified into a spur, covering the inner fused petals; petals 4, upper 2 united, clawed, spurred, enclosed in upper sepal, white or pale blue, purple-lined; lower petals 7-12 mm, 2-lobed; stamens 25 to 40, filaments wide, narrowing near anther, notched, blue-tinged; pistils 3 to 5, ovaries superior
Fruits and Seeds
Aggregate of follicles, 16-22mm long, 4 to 4.5 times longer than wide, slightly hairy; seeds reversely pyramidal, 2 mm long, dark brown to black, winged, smooth
Phenology
Flowers from late May to early July
Notes
Similar species:
Delphinium glareosum
Closely related to D. bicolor, differing in it’s wider-lobed stem leaves, shallower petal clefts, and narrower fruits.
This species is poisonous to cattle and is a major issue…
Similar species:
Delphinium glareosum
Closely related to D. bicolor, differing in it’s wider-lobed stem leaves, shallower petal clefts, and narrower fruits.
This species is poisonous to cattle and is a major issue for livestock foraging early in the season since it can be the most dominant species in the area at this time (Looman, 1975). All parts of the plant are poisonous, with the main toxic compound being delphinin, though the plants are safe to eat at their mature fruit-forming stage.
Range/Distribution
Alberta: South-Western foothills
CAN (BC, SK); USA (ID, MT, ND, SD, WY)
Citation
Page Citation for Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
Page Citation
"Species Details - Delphinium bicolor Nutt., University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/1-7866/12-107105. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.
Specimen Information
There are 101 specimens of this Species.
70936 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Longview
Date Collected1954-06-27
70938 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Elkwater Lake
Date Collected1930-06-16
70941 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park
Date Collected1952-06-04
8871 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park
Date Collected1935-06-20
72074 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Thelma
Date Collected1974-06-07
54603 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Reesor Lake
Date Collected1971-06-01
54781 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, British Columbia, Grand Forks
Date Collected1971-06-05
53985 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Saskatchewan, Wiwa Creek
Date Collected1974-05-27
53986 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Saskatchewan, Gull Lake
Date Collected1974-05-28
53987 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Saskatchewan, Canopus
Date Collected1974-05-29
53988 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Saskatchewan, Simmie
Date Collected1974-05-31
109191 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Saskatchewan, Wood Mountain
Date Collected1982-06-19
109193 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Saskatchewan, Cypress Hills Provincial Park
Date Collected1982-06-18
70927 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, British Columbia, Kelowna
Date Collected1952-05-04
70932 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: United States, Montana, Glacier National Park, St. Mary Lake
Date Collected1936-07-19
70945 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: United States, Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park
Date Collected1937-07-16
95733 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: United States, Montana, Highwood Mountains
Date Collected1992-06-12
106708 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: United States, Wyoming, Park County, Absaroka Mountains
Date Collected1983-06-19
70930 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: United States, Idaho, Craters of the Moon National Monument
Date Collected1938-06-20
70929 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: United States, Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park
Date Collected1938-06-26
70926 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: United States, California, El Dorado County
Date Collected1940-06-17