RANUNCULACEAE

BUTTERCUP FAMILY

Dieter H. Wilken, except as specified

Annual, perennial herb, sometimes aquatic
Leaves generally basal and cauline, generally alternate, simple or compound; petioles at base generally flat, sometimes sheathing or stipule-like
Inflorescence: cyme, raceme, panicle, or flowers solitary
Flower generally bisexual, radial; sepals generally 5, free, early deciduous or withering in fruit, generally green; petals 0–many, free; stamens generally 10–many; pistils 1–many, ovary superior, chamber 1, style 1, generally ± persistent in fruit as beak, ovules 1–many
Fruit: achene, follicle, berry, or utricle-like, 1–many-seeded
Genera in family: ± 60 genera, 1700 species: worldwide, especially n temp, tropical mtns; many ornamental (Adonis, Aquilegia, Clematis, Consolida, Delphinium, Erianthis, Helleborus ), some highly TOXIC (Aconitum, Actaea, Delphinium, Ranunculus )
Reference: [Duncan & Keener 1991 Phytologia 70:24–27]

DELPHINIUM

LARKSPUR

Michael J. Warnock

Perennial; root generally < 10 cm, ± fibrous or fleshy; buds generally obscure
Stem generally 1, erect, generally unbranched; base generally ± as wide as root, generally firmly attached to root, generally ± reddish or purplish
Leaves simple, basal and cauline, petioled; blades generally palmately lobed, deep lobes generally 3–5, generally < 6 mm wide, generally also lobed; lower leaves generally dry, often 0 in flower; cauline merging into bracts upward
Inflorescence: raceme or somewhat branched, terminal; flowers generally 10–25; pedicels generally ± spreading
Flower bilateral; sepals 5, petal-like, generally spreading, generally ± dark blue, uppermost spurred; petals 4, << sepals, upper 2 with nectar-secreting spurs enclosed in uppermost sepal, lower 2 clawed, with blades generally 4–8 mm, notched, generally ± perpendicular to claws, generally colored like sepals, generally obviously hairy; pistils 3(–5)
Fruit aggregate of 3(–5) erect follicles, generally 2.5–4 X longer than wide
Seed dark brown to black, often appearing white, generally winged when immature, generally without inflated collar; coat cell margins generally straight
Etymology: (Latin: dolphin, from bud shape)
Reference: [Lewis & Epling 1954 Brittonia 8:1–22]
Hybrids common, especially in disturbed places. Root length here includes coarse but not thread-like parts. Most species highly TOXIC, attractive and causing many deaths to cattle, less often to horses, sheep.
Horticultural information: Exc as noted, successful In cultivation only within natural range and habitat. Lowland subsp.: DRY. Upland species: winter chilling required.

Native

D. californicum Torr. & A. Gray

Root generally > 15 cm, distally branched; buds prominent (except on herbarium specimens)
Stem often 2 or more per root system, 60–220 (generally > 100) cm, generally puberulent
Leaf: lobes 3–15, tips ± sharply cut
Inflorescence generally branched; flowers generally > 50; lowermost bracts ± leaf-like; pedicels 5–65 mm, 5–25 mm apart, puberulent
Flower: sepals forward-pointing, ± lavender to greenish white, lateral 6–11 mm, spur 7–14 mm; lower petal blades 3–5 mm
Fruit 11–16 mm
Seed with ± overlapping scales
Ecology: Chaparral, open woodlands
Elevation: 0–1000 m.
Bioregional distribution: Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area.

Native

subsp. interius (Eastw.) Ewan

HOSPITAL CANYON LARKSPUR

Leaf glabrous
Inflorescence: main axis ± glabrous; pedicel tips often puberulent
Flower: sepals greenish white, hairs generally near tips only, lateral 6–8 mm, spur 7–10 mm; upper petals ± glabrous
Ecology: UNCOMMON. Generally slopes in open woodlands, eastern side of coast ranges
Elevation: 300–800 m.
Bioregional distribution: eastern San Francisco Bay Area
Horticultural information: DRN, DRY; DFCLT.