DWARF LARKSPUR
File Size: 75 KB
 
Delphinium tricorne  Michx.
Johnson County, Kansas
Perennial
Height: 8-28 inches
Family: Ranunculaceae - Buttercup Family
Flowering Period:   April, May, June
Also Called: Rock larkspur.
Stems: Erect, solitary, usually stout, unbranched to sparingly branched, hollow, somewhat succulent, glabrous below, pubescent in inflorescence; stem breaks easily.
Leaves: Alternate, few, mostly at or near base, long-stalked below, stalks of upper leaves reduced in size; main stem leaves 4-12, palmately-divided; segments 3-7, lanceolate to oblong-linear
Inflorescences: Raceme, slender, 2 to 8 inches long, 6-30-flowered, finely soft-hairy, terminal; spurs of flowers intersect raceme axis.
Flowers: Showy, to 1.5 inch long; stalks .4 to 1.2 inch long; sepals 5, petal-like, deep blue or violet, rarely pink or white, lower ones 2/5 to 4/5 inch long, uppermost with spur 2/5 to 4/5 inch long; petals 4, small, inconspicuous; upper 2 petals white, often tinged blue, extending backward into sepal spur; lower 2 petals usually blue, bearded, partly concealing stamens and pistils; stamens numerous.
Fruits: Pods 3, erect, spreading at maturity, 2/5 to 3/5 inch long, pointed; seeds numerous, dark.
Habitat: Moist or rocky woods, thickets, stream banks, roadsides, and ravine bottoms.
Distribution: East 1/3 of Kansas.
Origin: Native
Toxicity: Poisonous to livestock.
Comments: From Latin tricornis, "having 3 horns", alluding to the 3 spreading fruit pods.

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Dwarf larkspur leaf
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Dwarf larkspur flowers
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Dwarf larkspur
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Johnson County, Kansas