Delphinium nuttallianum (Larkspur, Dwarf Larkspur)
Synonym: Helleboraceae (Hellebore Family).   
Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)

Foothills, montane.  Meadows.  Spring, early summer.
Stoner Mesa Trail, June 23, 2005.

In the early spring Delphinium nuttallianum, a lovely violet-blue Larkspur (the spur on the rear of the flower is a key to identifying Delphiniums), appears in the mountains up to 9,500 feet in elevation in solitary patches in open woods and also in massive arrays in meadows.  Delphinium nuttallianum commonly produces two, short, deeply dissected basal leaves early in the spring and then puts up a 6-to-12 inch leafless flower stalk.  By the time the flowers are fully opened, as in the picture at left, the basal leaves are usually withered.  The lower arrows point to the  dried, buff-colored leaves at the bottom of the stalk.  The two upper arrows point to the green star-burst shaped seed pods.

Linnaeus named this genus in 1753.  "Delphinium" is from the Latin "delphinus", "Dolphin", for the resemblance of the flower buds to Dolphins.  (Click to see the Dolphins.)  In 1843 Pritzel named this species for Thomas Nuttall, the highly praised 19th century botanist, explorer, and Harvard Professor. (More biographical information.)

Delphinium nuttallianum (Larkspur, Dwarf Larkspur)
Synonym: Helleboraceae (Hellebore Family).   
Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)

Foothills, montane.  Meadows.  Spring, early summer.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, April 18, 2010.

Very large basal leaves are the result of continual snows and rains from December through
April.

Delphinium nuttallianum (Larkspur, Dwarf Larkspur)
Synonym: Helleboraceae (Hellebore Family).   
Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)

Foothills, montane.  Meadows.  Spring, early summer.
Stoner Mesa Trail, June 23, 2005
Narraguinnep Natural Area, May 28, 2004.

Click for more  Delphinium nuttallianum.