Delphinium barbeyi (Huth) Huth

Common Names and Taxonomy

Delphinium barbeyi is a flowering plant species in the buttercup family, commonly known as subalpine larkspur, tall larkspur, and Barbey's larkspur.

Native Distribution

It is native to the interior western United States, where it occurs in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

Growth Form and Size

This species is a perennial herb that grows up to 1.5 meters tall.

Leaf Arrangement

Leaves grow along the stem, but disappear from the lowest part of the stem by the time the plant blooms.

Leaf Shape

The leaves are somewhat rounded in outline and divided into several lobes.

Inflorescence Traits

The tall inflorescence can hold up to 50 flowers at a time, though a single plant may produce hundreds of flowers total.

Flower Pedicel

Each flower grows on a pedicel up to 6 centimeters long.

Flower Structure and Color

The flower has five dark purple-blue sepals with whitish or yellowish hairs on the inside.

Fruit Characteristics

The fruit is a follicle that can reach up to 2.2 centimeters in length.

Lifespan

The plant is long-lived, and can live for more than 75 years.

Habitat and Climate

It grows in wet habitat types in subalpine and alpine climates, and is a dominant member of the herb layer in many locations.

Associated Vegetation

It can often be found growing beneath aspen trees.

Hybridization with Delphinium glaucum

This Delphinium species commonly hybridizes with its relative, Delphinium glaucum; hybrids may be more common in the habitat than individuals of the parent species.

Glaucum Hybrid Nomenclature

The hybrid is sometimes called duncecap larkspur (Delphinium × occidentale).

Other Hybridization Partners

D. barbeyi also hybridizes with Delphinium ramosum and D. sapellonis.

Primary Pollinators

Bumblebees and hummingbirds feed on nectar from the flowers of this species.

Recorded Pollinator Species

Observed visiting species include the bees Bombus nevadensis, Bombus insularis, Bombus appositus, and Bombus flavifrons, and the hummingbirds Selasphorus platycercus, Selasphorus rufus, and Stellula calliope.

Pollinator Preference

Both groups of pollinators prefer larkspurs that have the largest flower displays.

Additional Flower Visitors

The sphinx moth Hyles lineata and anthomyiid flies also visit the flowers.

Genus Toxicity

All members of the genus Delphinium are toxic to humans and livestock.

Larkspur Poisonous Traits

Many larkspur species are known to be poisonous and hazardous to livestock.

Livestock Toxicity Risk

This species is notorious as one of the most common toxic plants responsible for livestock deaths, especially cattle fatalities on rangelands in Colorado and Utah.

Species Susceptibility Variation

Sheep are much less susceptible to its toxicity.

Cattle Poisoning Prevalence

In areas where this larkspur and its hybrids are common, up to 15% of a cow herd can be lost to poisoning.

Economic Impact of Poisoning

This causes losses of millions of dollars for ranchers.

Rancher Land Management Adjustments

The abundance of this larkspur has led ranchers to remove their livestock from some rangeland areas, or only use the land at certain times of year.

Toxic Compounds

The plant contains many toxic alkaloids.

First Isolated Alkaloids

The alkaloids barbinine and barbinidine were first isolated from this species.

Most Toxic Compounds

The most toxic compounds are (methylsuccinimido) anthranoyllycoctonine (MSAL) diterpenoids.

Fatal Dose Estimate

It is estimated that a fatal dose of alkaloid is contained in approximately two kilograms of dry plant material.

Poisoning Symptoms and Cause of Death

Poisoning causes paralysis, and death results from respiratory paralysis.

Toxicosis Treatment

Toxicity reactions in animals, sometimes called larkspur toxicosis, can be treated with physostigmine.

Rancher Control Measures

Ranchers sometimes try to kill this larkspur using the herbicide tebuthiuron.

Herbicide Research Findings

Glyphosate and picloram have been shown to be effective in research trials, but these chemicals also kill non-target plants, which accelerates the invasion of weeds into the habitat.