Delphinium

Species with short stems and few flowers such as Delphinium nuttallianum and Delphinium bicolor appear in habitats like prairies and the sagebrush steppe. Tall and robust species with many flowers, such as Delphinium occidentale, appear more often in forests.

File:Delphinium nuttallianum 4361f.JPG).]]

File:Larkspur in Utah.jpg rangelands]]

The leaves are deeply lobed with three to seven toothed, pointed lobes in a palmate shape. The main flowering stem is erect, and varies greatly in size between the species, from 10 centimetres in some alpine species, up to 2 m tall in the larger meadowland species.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

In June and July (Northern Hemisphere), the plant is topped with a raceme of many flowers, varying in colour from purple and blue, to red, yellow, or white. The flowers are bilaterally symmetrical and have many stamens.{{Cite book|last=Taylor|first=Ronald J.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/25708726|title=Sagebrush Country: A Wildflower Sanctuary|publisher=Mountain Press Pub. Co|year=1994|isbn=0-87842-280-3|edition=rev.|location=Missoula, MT|pages=36|language=en|oclc=25708726|orig-year=1992}} In most species, each flower consists of five petal-like sepals which grow together to form a hollow pocket with a spur at the end, which gives the plant its name, usually more or less dark blue. Within the sepals are four true petals, small, inconspicuous, and commonly coloured similarly to the sepals. The uppermost sepal is spurred, and encloses the nectar-secreting spurs of the two upper petals.

The seeds are small and often shiny black. The plants flower from late spring to late summer, and are pollinated by butterflies and bumble bees. Despite the toxicity, Delphinium species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including the dot moth and small angle shades.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-06 |title=How To Plant, Grow, And Care For Delphinium Plant Perennial Flowers |url=https://www.plantgardener.com/how-to-plant-grow-and-care-for-delphinium-plant/ |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=www.plantgardener.com |language=en-us}}

Image:Delphinieae cladogram.png]]

Genetic analysis suggests that Delphinium sensu lato, as it was delineated before the 21st century, is polyphyletic. Nested within Delphinium s.l. are Aconitella, Consolida, and Aconitum. To make Delphinium monophyletic, several interventions were made. The new genus Staphisagria was erected containing Staphisagria macrosperma (D. staphisagria), S. requienii (D. requini) and S. picta (D. pictum), representing the sister group to all other Delphinieae.{{Cite journal|title=Resurrection of the genus Staphisagria J. Hill, sister to all the other Delphinieae (Ranunculaceae)|last1=Jabbour|first1=Florian|last2=Renner|first2=Susanne|date=2011|journal=PhytoKeys|doi=10.3897/phytokeys.7.2010|issue=7|pages=21–6|issn=1314-2003|pmc=3261041|pmid=22287922 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2011PhytK...7...21J }}{{cite journal|last1= Jabbour|first1= Florian|last2= Renner|first2= Susanne S.|year= 2012|title= A phylogeny of Delphinieae (Ranunculaceae) shows that Aconitum is nested within Delphinium and that Late Miocene transition to long life cycles in the Himalayas and Southwest China coincide with bursts in diversification|journal= Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution|volume= 62|issue= 3|pages= 928–942|doi= 10.1016/j.ympev.2011.12.005|pmid= 22182994|bibcode= 2012MolPE..62..928J}} Further genetic analysis has shown that the two large subgenera Aconitum (Aconitum) and Aconitum (Lycoctonum) are the sister group to Aconitum gymnandrum, Delphinium (Delphinium), Delphinium (Delphinastrum), Consolida and Aconitella. To make Aconitum monophyletic, A. gymnandrum has now been reassigned to a new monotypic genus, Gymnaconitum. Finally, Consolida and Aconitella are synonymized with Delphinium.{{cite journal|last1= Wang|first1= Wei|last2=Liu|first2= Yang|last3= Yu|first3= Sheng-Xiang|last4= Gai|first4= Tian-Gang|last5= Chen|first5= Zhi-Duan|year= 2013|title= Gymnaconitum, a new genus of Ranunculaceae endemic to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau|journal= Taxon|volume= 62|issue= 4|pages= 713–722|doi=10.12705/624.10|url= http://ir.ibcas.ac.cn/handle/2S10CLM1/13542}}{{Cite journal|last1=Jabbour|first1=Florian|last2=Renner|first2=Susanne S.|date=March 2012|title=A phylogeny of Delphinieae (Ranunculaceae) shows that Aconitum is nested within Delphinium and that Late Miocene transitions to long life cycles in the Himalayas and Southwest China coincide with bursts in diversification|journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution|volume=62|issue=3|pages=928–942|doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2011.12.005|pmid=22182994|bibcode=2012MolPE..62..928J }}

D. arthriscifolium is sister to all other species of Delphinium sensu stricto (so excluding Staphisagria). It should be placed in its own subgenus, but no proposal naming this subgenus has been made yet. The subgenera Delphinium (Delphinium) and Delphinium (Delphinastrum) are sister to the group consisting of the species of Consolida and Aconitella, which together make up the subgenus Delphinium (Consolida). Aconitella cannot be retained as a subgenus because A. barbata does not cluster with the remaining species previously assigned to that genus, without creating five further subgenera.

{{main|List of Delphinium species{{!}}List of Delphinium species}}

Species include:

{{div col|colwidth=300px}}

• Delphinium andersonii
• Delphinium arthriscifolium
• Delphinium bakeri
• Delphinium barbeyi
• Delphinium bicolour
• Delphinium brunonianum
• Delphinium californicum
• Delphinium calthifolium
• Delphinium cardinale
• Delphinium carolinianum
• Delphinium cheilanthum
• Delphinium consolida
• Delphinium decorum
• Delphinium denudatum
• Delphinium depauperatum
• Delphinium elatum
• Delphinium exaltatum
• Delphinium formosum
• Delphinium glaucum
• Delphinium gracilentum
• Delphinium grandiflorum
• Delphinium gypsophilum
• Delphinium hansenii
• Delphinium hesperium
• Delphinium hutchinsoniae
• Delphinium hybridum
• Delphinium inopinum
• Delphinium ithaburense
• Delphinium leucophaeum
• Delphinium luteum
• Delphinium malabaricum
• Delphinium nudicaule
• Delphinium nuttallianum
• Delphinium occidentale
• Delphinium parishii
• Delphinium parryi
• Delphinium patens
• Delphinium pavonaceum
• Delphinium peregrinum
• Delphinium polycladon
• Delphinium purpusii
• Delphinium recurvatum
• Delphinium robustum
• Delphinium scopulorum
• Delphinium stachydeum
• Delphinium tricorne
• Delphinium trolliifolium
• Delphinium uliginosum
• Delphinium umbraculorum
• Delphinium variegatum
• Delphinium viridescens

{{div col end}}

Several species of Delphinium have been reassigned:

• D. pictum = Staphisagria picta
• D. requienii = Staphisagria requienii
• D. staphisagria = Staphisagria macrosperma

Delphiniums can attract butterflies and other pollinators.{{cite web |url=http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b219 |website=Plant Finder |publisher=Missouri Botanical Garden |title=Delphinium (Pacific Hybrids) |access-date=2018-07-31}}

{{main|Garden delphiniums}}

File:Delph 1.jpg]]

File:Delphinium.jpg]]

Various delphiniums are cultivated as ornamental plants, for traditional and native plant gardens. The numerous hybrids and cultivars are primarily used as garden plants, providing height at the back of the summer border, in association with roses, lilies, and geraniums.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

Most delphinium hybrids and cultivars are derived from D. elatum. Hybridisation was developed in the 19th century, led by Victor Lemoine in France.{{cite web |first=Sherry |last=Rindels |date=2013 |others=Revised by Richard Jauron, illustrations by Susan Aldworth |url=http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/RG306.pdf |publisher=Iowa State Cooperative Extension |title=Delphiniums}} Other hybrid crosses have included D. bruninianum, D. cardinale, D. cheilanthum, and D. formosum.{{cite web |url=http://delphinium.co.nz/DelphiniumHistory.html |publisher=Dowdeswell's Delphiniums |title=History of Delphiniums in cultivation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208053743/http://delphinium.co.nz/DelphiniumHistory.html |archive-date=2013-02-08 |access-date=2013-01-10}}

Numerous cultivars have been selected as garden plants, and for cut flowers and floristry. They are available in shades of white, pink, purple, and blue. The blooming plant is also used in displays and specialist competitions at flower and garden shows, such as the Chelsea Flower Show.{{cite book|last=Bassett|first=David|title=Delphiniums|year=2006|publisher=Batsford|location=United Kingdom|isbn=978-0713490022|pages=160}}

The 'Pacific Giant' hybrids are a group with individual single-colour cultivar names, developed by Reinelt in the United States. They typically grow to {{convert|4|-|6|ft|m|1|order=flip|abbr=on}} tall on long stems, by {{convert|2|-|3|ft|cm|sigfig=1|order=flip|abbr=on}} wide. They reportedly can tolerate deer. Millennium delphinium hybrids, bred by Dowdeswell's in New Zealand, are reportedly better in warmer climates than the Pacific hybrids.{{cite web |url=http://delphinium.co.nz/GrowingDelphiniumInUSAAndCanada.html |website=Dowdeswell's Delphiniums Ltd |title=Growing Delphiniums from seed and caring for them |access-date=2013-01-10}}{{cite web |url=http://www.timberpress.com/blog/2011/01/plant-review-hybrid-delphiniums/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204001104/http://www.timberpress.com/blog/2011/01/plant-review-hybrid-delphiniums/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 4, 2011 |website=Timber Press |title=Hybrid Delphiniums plant review |access-date=2013-01-10 |date=2011-01-28 }} Flower colours in shades of red, orange, and pink have been hybridized from D. cardinale by Americans Reinelt and Samuelson.

Since 2024 the UK National Collection of delphiniums has been held by Colin Parton at Delph Cottage Garden, south east of Leeds. Parton has over 100 cultivars, 21 of which are on the endangered list on Plant Heritage’s Threatened Plants Programme. He occasionally opens his garden to the public in return for a donation to the charity Cancer Research.{{Cite web|url=https://www.livingnorth.com/article/meet-delphinium-dad-whose-yorkshire-collection-has-national-plant-collection-status|title=Meet the 'Delphinium Dad' Whose Yorkshire Collection Has National Plant Collection Status|website=Living North}}{{Cite web|url=https://thedirt.news/uks-largest-delphinium-collection-awarded-national-plant-collection-status/|title=UK’s Largest Delphinium Collection Awarded National Plant Collection Status|date=August 29, 2024|website=thedirt.news}}

The following delphinium cultivars have received the Award of Garden Merit from the British Royal Horticultural Society:{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf | title = AGM Plants - Ornamental | date = July 2017 | page = 29 | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | access-date = 6 February 2018}}

All parts of these plants are considered toxic to humans, especially the younger parts, causing severe digestive discomfort if ingested, and skin irritation.{{Jepson Manual |id=6434,6462 |taxon=Delphinium |access-date = 2012-12-08 |first=Michael J. |last=Warnock}}{{cite journal |first1=J. D. |last1=Olsen |first2=G. D. |last2=Manners |first3=S. W. |last3=Pelletier |date=1990 |title=Poisonous properties of larkspur (Delphinium spp.) |journal=Collectanea Botanica |place=Barcelona |volume=19 |pages=141–151|doi=10.3989/collectbot.1990.v19.122 |doi-access=free }} Larkspur, especially tall larkspur, is a significant cause of cattle poisoning on rangelands in the western United States.{{cite web |url=http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=9943 |title=Larkspur Fact Sheet |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Poisonous Plant Research |place=Logan, Utah}} Larkspur is more common in high-elevation areas, and many ranchers delay moving cattle onto such ranges until late summer when the toxicity of the plants is reduced.{{cite web |publisher=Utah State University |url=http://www.behave.net/fact_sheets/larkspur_poisoning.pdf |title=Reducing Losses Due to Tall Larkspur Poisoning}}

Death is through cardiotoxic and neuromuscular blocking effects, and can occur within a few hours of ingestion.{{cite book |last=Smith |first=Bradford |date=2002 |title=Large Animal Internal Medicine |edition=3rd |page=252 |publisher=Mosby |place=St. Louis |isbn=978-0-323-00946-1}} All parts of the plant contain various diterpenoid alkaloids, typified by methyllycaconitine, and are very poisonous.

The juice of the flowers, particularly D. consolida, mixed with alum, gives a blue ink.{{cite book |last=Figuier |first=L. |date=1867 |title=The Vegetable World, Being a History of Plants |publisher=Harvard University |page=396}}

All plant parts are poisonous in large doses, especially the seeds, that contain up to 1.4% of alkaloids.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

{{Reflist|3}}

{{Commons category|Delphinium}}

{{Wikispecies}}

• [[https://web.archive.org/web/19990501235849/http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genform.pl General Nomenclature in GRIN:] GRIN: Species in the genus Delphinium'] — with links by species for information + synonyms''.
• [http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=9943 USDA-ARS: Larkspur—Delphinium spp. Fact Sheet] — native U.S. species and grazing toxicity.
• [http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/b219/delphinium-pacific-hybrids.aspx MBG—Kemper Center for Home Gardening: Delphinium "Pacific Giant Hybrids"] — horticultural information.
• [http://delphinium.co.nz/GrowingDelphiniumInUSAAndCanada.html Dowdeswell's Ltd: "Growing New Millennium Delphiniums in the U.S. & Canada"] — horticultural information.

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Category:Garden plants

Category:Medicinal plants

Category:Ranunculaceae genera