Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_2332.JPG-07-03-2022
Flower name (scientific): Delphinium carolinianum Walter PY: 1788. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) del-FIN-ee-um kair-oh-lin-ee-AY-num
Flower name (common): Carolina Larkspur
Family name (common): Buttercup
Family name (scientific): Ranunculaceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: Originally from Greek delphin for dolphin, a name used by Dioscorides to describe the supposed resemblance of the unopened flower appearance to classical sculptures of dolphins.
    Specific epithet: Of or from Carolina.
Common name origin: From its first published observation from the Carolinas. Larkspur is a compounding of lark and spur. The spur refers to spur-shaped calyx and the petals supposedly resemble the claws of the meadowlark.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.6 to 1.0 inches (1.5 to 2.5 cm)
     Petal count: 5
     Color: white
     Other: flower arrangement, Raceme
Plant description:
     Size: 12 to 36 inches (30 to 90 cm)
     Stem hairy: pubescent, moderate to densely, with short hairs
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is compound and lobed
     Size: Leaves up to about 8 to 10 cm long and up to about 10 to 12 cm wide.
     Color: whitish green to medium green
     Hairy: pubescent
     Other: Shape: leaf, blade round to pentagonal (FNA), deeply palmately divided (MB)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Uncommon
Bloom time (typical): June to July
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial
Habitat: Woods, prairies, savannas, forest openings, dry, sun.
Fruit: Follicles are approximately 12 to 19 mm in length, glabrous or puberulent.
Seed: Brownish-colored, about 1.4 to 2 mm in length.
Importance to wildlife:
Similar species (if any): No close lookalikes in this region.
Ethnobotany: No recorded uses by tribes in Wisconsin. The Lakota were aware that this plant was poisonous to cattle. The Kiowa used the seeds of this plant in their ceremonial rattles (Moerman, p. 196, 1998).
Latitude: 44.796828
Longitude: -91.513650
Altitude: 265.20
Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Crawford, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix, Trempealeau) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AL, AR, CO, FL, GA, IA, IL, KS, KY, LA, MN, MO, MS, ND, NE, NM, OK, SC, SD, TN, TX, WI) Click here for distribution map
In Canada: (MB) Click here for distribution map
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: na
Homotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 1 homotypic synonym for this species.
Heterotypic Synonym(s): na
Autonym: Delphinium carolinianum subsp. carolinianum (The other infraspecifics are Delphinium carolinianum subsp. calciphilum M. J. Warnock, Delphinium carolinianum subsp. vimineum (D.Don) M. J. Warnock, Delphinium carolinianum subsp. virescens (Nutt.) R. E. Brooks. All three of these subspecies are found in North America.)
Wetland Status (NC): Not listed
Wetland Status (MW): Not listed