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. gypsophilum Ewan

Root sometimes > 15 cm, distally branched
Stem 30–150 (generally 60–100) cm; base sometimes narrower than root but firmly attached to root, generally glabrous, glaucous
Leaf: margins generally puberulent
Inflorescence generally branched; pedicels 5–25 mm, 3–50 mm apart, glabrous
Flower: sepals generally white to pink, lateral 7–19 mm, spur 7–15 mm; lower petal blades 3–8 mm
Fruit 9–18 mm, generally < 3 X longer than wide
Seed: coat cell margins wavy
Ecology: Grassland, oak woodland
Elevation: 150–1200 m.
Bioregional distribution: s Sierra Nevada Foothills, Tehachapi Mountain Area, San Joaquin Valley, South Coast Ranges.

Native

subsp. parviflorum F.H. Lewis & Epling

SMALL-FLOWERED GYPSUM-LOVING LARKSPUR

Stem 30–140 cm
Inflorescence: pedicels generally < 1 cm apart
Flower: sepals white to pinkish, lateral 7–10 mm, spur 7–11 mm; lower petal blades 3–4 mm, white or yellow
Chromosomes: 2n=16
Ecology: UNCOMMON. Open oak woodland
Elevation: 200–350 m.
Bioregional distribution: Outer South Coast Ranges
Horticultural information: DRN, DRY; DFCLT.