Subalpine Larkspur
Delphinium barbeyi
Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae)

Subalpine Larkspur(Delphinium barbeyi) is a favorite for many hikers. The flowers range from an iridescent inky-blue to deep purple, the plant's four to seven foot flower stalks are stately and eye-catching, and the plant is abundant and long-flowering. Along with the massive white flowering Cow Parsnip and lacy white Loveroot, Delphinium dominates moist Aspen woods in July and August when the three put on one of the finest mountain wildflower displays. Tall flower stalks of blue and white seem to float above acres of green, dense, moist, redolent summer foliage. Stretching high above are brilliant white Aspen trunks capped with quaking green leaves and radiant shafts of Colorado violet-blue sky.

Linnaeus named this genus in 1753. "Delphinium" is from the Latin "delphinus," "Dolphin," for the resemblance of the flower buds to Dolphins. In 1893 Ernest Huth named this species to honor William Barbey, late 19th century Swiss philanthropist and botanist. See the similar but much smaller Upland Larkspur (Delphinium nuttallianum).

Description

Plants from stout woody rootstocks, stems to over 6' tall, hollow, more or less glandular-hairy, densely so in the inflorescence, often nearly glabrous near the base. Leaves large, little reduced upward on the stem, broader than long, divided or cleft into 3 primary segments. Raceme compact with scented and showy flowers. Sepals to over 1/2" long, rich dark purple, spur about 2/5" long, curved near tip, lower petals colored like sepals. Fruit a capsule with smoky-brown seeds.

Field Marks

Six foot tall flower stems with large palmate, deeply divided leaves, support long clusters of purple spurred flowers.

© Al Schneider