About Delphinium nudicaule Torr. & A.Gray
Nomenclature and Classification
Delphinium nudicaule Torr. & A.Gray, a species with common names including canyon larkspur, red larkspur, orange larkspur, and canyon delphinium, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae.
Native Range
This species is native to Oregon and California, United States, where it grows in low-elevation canyons, slopes, foothills, and mountain ranges, ranging from the Sierra Nevada to the California Coast Ranges.
Elevation Range
It grows at elevations below 6,500 feet (2,000 m).
Stem and Leaf Morphology
Delphinium nudicaule produces thin, long stems that reach 1–2 feet (0.30–0.61 m) in height, and bears finely dissected leaves.
Flower Characteristics and Pollination
Its attractive larkspur blooms come in shades of red and orange, and are typically pollinated by hummingbirds.
Hybridization
D. nudicaule readily hybridizes with several other species in the genus Delphinium.
Traditional Medicinal Use
Historically, the root of this plant has been used medicinally as a narcotic, most notably by the Yuki Mendocino Native Americans.
Indigenous Common Names
In the Konkow language, the Concow tribe calls the plant sō-ma’, and refers to its root as sō-ma’ yem.
