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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/1-7866/12-107207. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.
Specimen Information
There are 101 specimens of this Species.
113802 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Plateau Mountain Ecological Reserve, Plateau Mountain
Date Collected1980-07-30
116529 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: United States, Montana, Toole County, Gold Butte
Date Collected1976-05-07
118803 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, RB Miller Biological Station
Date Collected1967-06-08
118802 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Kananaskis Country, Sheep River Road
Date Collected1967-06-15
119102 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: United States, Montana, Missoula County
Date Collected1962-05-09
71661 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Hailstone Butte
Date Collected1974-07-02
8872 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park, Red Rock Canyon
Date Collected1935-06-18
23921 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Crowsnest Forest Reserve, Spring Creek
Date Collected1955-06-22
38453 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park, Maskinonge Lake
Date Collected1967-06-07
46576 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Cypress Hills Provincial Park
Date Collected1945-06-13
46202 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park, Blakiston Creek
Date Collected1972-05-24
8865 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Glenwood
Date Collected1941-05-18
8859 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park, Avion Ridge
Date Collected1953-08-07
46575 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Spring Creek
Date Collected1945-06-07
8867 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park
Date Collected1950-08-05
70939 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Banff National Park, Stoney Squaw Mountain
Date Collected1899-07-07
38583 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Cypress Hills
Date Collected1971-06-16
32067 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Manyberries
Date Collected1966-06-17
54597 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Lundbreck Falls
Date Collected1971-06-04
57359 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Banff National Park, Snow Creek Pass
Date Collected1972-07-23
8896 - Delphinium bicolor Nutt.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namelittle larkspur
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Banff National Park, Mount Norquay
Date Collected1916-07-03