Index of Species Information
SPECIES: Delphinium × occidentale
Introductory
SPECIES: Delphinium × occidentale
AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION :
Matthews, Robin F. 1993. Delphinium × occidentale. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online].
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station,
Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/forb/delocc/all.html [].
ABBREVIATION :
DELOCC
SYNONYMS :
NO-ENTRY
SCS PLANT CODE :
DEOC
COMMON NAMES :
western larkspur
tall larkspur
TAXONOMY :
The currently accepted scientific name of western larkspur is
Delphinium × occidentale (S. Wats.) S. Wats. (pro sp.). It is a hybrid
of subalpine larkspur (D. barbeyi) and Sierra larkspur (D. glaucum) [12].
LIFE FORM :
Forb
FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS :
No special status
OTHER STATUS :
NO-ENTRY
DISTRIBUTION AND OCCURRENCE
SPECIES: Delphinium × occidentale
GENERAL DISTRIBUTION :
Western larkspur is distributed from northeastern Oregon to Montana and
south to Nevada, Utah, and Colorado [9,10,11,15,27]. In addition, Welsh
and others [27] report populations in Arizona and New Mexico.
ECOSYSTEMS :
FRES20 Douglas-fir
FRES21 Ponderosa pine
FRES23 Fir - spruce
FRES26 Lodgepole pine
FRES28 Western hardwoods
FRES29 Sagebrush
FRES34 Chaparral - mountain shrub
FRES36 Mountain grasslands
FRES37 Mountain meadows
FRES44 Alpine
STATES :
AZ CO ID MT NV NM OR UT WY
BLM PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS :
5 Columbia Plateau
6 Upper Basin and Range
8 Northern Rocky Mountains
9 Middle Rocky Mountains
10 Wyoming Basin
11 Southern Rocky Mountains
12 Colorado Plateau
16 Upper Missouri Basin and Broken Lands
KUCHLER PLANT ASSOCIATIONS :
K011 Western ponderosa forest
K012 Douglas-fir forest
K015 Western spruce - fir forest
K018 Pine - Douglas-fir forest
K020 Spruce - fir - Douglas-fir forest
K021 Southwestern spruce - fir forest
K022 Great Basin pine forest
K037 Mountain-mahogany - oak scrub
K038 Great Basin sagebrush
K052 Alpine meadows and barren
K055 Sagebrush steppe
K063 Foothills prairie
SAF COVER TYPES :
206 Engelmann spruce - subalpine fir
208 Whitebark pine
210 Interior Douglas-fir
211 White fir
217 Aspen
218 Lodgepole pine
219 Limber pine
237 Interior ponderosa pine
SRM (RANGELAND) COVER TYPES :
NO-ENTRY
HABITAT TYPES AND PLANT COMMUNITIES :
Western larkspur is common in open coniferous forests and aspen,
sagebrush, mountain brush, and meadow habitats. It is listed as a
codominant herbaceous layer species in the following publication:
Subalpine forb community types of the Bridger-Teton National Forest,
Wyoming [8]
Some forbs associated with western larkspur in subalpine forb
communities include mountain bluebells (Mertensia ciliata), horsemint
(Agastache urticifolia), cowparsnip (Heracleum lanatum), western
coneflower (Rudbeckia occidentalis), arrowleaf groundsel (Senecio
triangularis), cutleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza macrophylla), sticky
geranium (Geranium viscosissimum), silvery lupine (Lupinus argenteus),
fernleaf licoriceroot (Ligusticum filicinum), tufted hairgrass
(Deschampsia cespitosa), mountain brome (Bromus carinatus), and cutting
wheatgrass (Agropyron caninus) [8].
MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS
SPECIES: Delphinium × occidentale
IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE :
Western larkspur-dominated tall forb communities are utilized by elk,
moose, deer, cattle, and domestic sheep [8]. Cattle prefer western
larkspur flowers and immature seed pods [18,19].
PALATABILITY :
The palatability of western larkspur is rated fair to good for sheep,
poor to fair for cattle, and poor for horses [4].
NUTRITIONAL VALUE :
Western larkspur is poor in protein and energy value [4].
COVER VALUE :
Western larkspur provides good cover for small nongame birds and small
mammals [4].
VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES :
NO-ENTRY
OTHER USES AND VALUES :
Larkspur species are cultivated as ornamentals [3].
Crushed larkspurs (Delphinium spp.) were used by Native Americans for
controlling lice and other insects [23].
OTHER MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS :
The tall larkspurs (western larkspur and Barbey larkspur [D. barbeyi])
are highly poisonous and are responsible for more cattle deaths on
mountain ranges in the western United States than any other plant
species. Presence of the tall larkspurs on cattle allotments dictates
when and how ranges are grazed. As many as 1,000 head of cattle have
been lost in a 1-year period on managed rangelands of the
Intermountain Forest Service Region. Western larkspur is palatable to
both cattle and sheep, but sheep can tolerate about four times more
western larkspur in their diet than cattle. Western
larkspur-dominated tall forb communities on high mountain ranges are
often considered good sheep foraging areas [18,19].
Western larkspur produces several alkaloids. Highest concentrations of
these alkaloids occur in spring and early summer while plants are in the
vegetative stage of growth. Toxicity generally declines as plants
mature. Toxicity varies between sites or even on the same site in
different years. Total alkaloid content of western larkspur may
increase with the application of herbicides. Plants remain palatable,
however, which may result in loss of livestock [18,19].
Three potential methods for controlling western larkspur have been
suggested. First, defer grazing of larkspur-infested ranges until after
flowering, when alkaloid levels have declined. Second, sequentially
graze sheep before cattle, close-herding sheep through larkspur-infested
areas to trample plants and make them unacceptable to cattle. Third,
control western larkspur with herbicides [18,19]. Glyphosphate,
metsulfuron, triclopyr, and picloram control western larkspur [20,29,30].
BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Delphinium × occidentale
GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS :
Western larkspur is a robust perennial forb with deep, woody roots.
Stems may be numerous, and are usually 24 to 80 inches (60-200 cm) tall
and hollow. Leaves are alternate and palmately divided. Flowers are
borne in racemes and the fruit is a many-seeded follicle. Seeds are
about 0.08 to 0.1 inches (0.2-0.25 cm) long [10,15,23,27].
RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM :
Hemicryptophyte
REGENERATION PROCESSES :
Western larkspur reproduces by seed [4,17]. Seeds may be stored in the
soil [25].
SITE CHARACTERISTICS :
Western larkspur is found on streambanks and moist talus slopes, and in
meadows, thickets, and open woods [5,9,10,15]. It most often occurs on
moist to wet sites and is often concentrated in areas of late snowmelt
[8,23]. Duncecep larkspur is found on dry, shallow gravel to sandy
clay, but grows best on rich loamy soils [3,25]. It grows well on level
ground to steep slopes [4,8]. Upper and lower elevational limits of
western larkspur in a few western states follow [4]:
Feet Meters
_______________________________________________
Utah 5,200-10,000 1,575-3,030
Colorado 6,500- 9,800 1,970-2,970
Wyoming 5,500-10,000 1,670-3,030
Montana 7,800- 8,500 2,360-2,575
SUCCESSIONAL STATUS :
Western larkspur grows well in open to shaded sites [3,25]. In
subalpine forb communities of the Bridger-Teton National Forest,
Wyoming, western larkspur is found on pristine sites as well as sites
highly disturbed by pocket gophers [8]. It is also found in climax
trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides)/tall forb stands and seral
trembling aspen-subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) stands in the
Intermountain Region [16]. Western larkspur occurs in Idaho fescue
(Festuca idahoensis)-cutting wheatgrass and mountain big sagebrush
(Artemisia tridentata spp. vaseyana) habitat types in the Shoshone
National Forest, Wyoming [24].
SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT :
Western larkspur begins growth in late spring. It flowers in July and
August and the seeds mature from August to September [23].
FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Delphinium × occidentale
FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS :
Information on adaptations of western larkspur for survival following
fire is not available in the literature. Seeds may survive in the soil
seedbank [25].
FIRE REGIMES :
Find fire regime information for the plant communities in which this
species may occur by entering the species name in the FEIS home page under
"Find Fire Regimes".
POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY :
Secondary colonizer - off-site seed
Ground residual colonizer (on-site, initial community)
FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Delphinium × occidentale
IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT :
Western larkspur is probably killed by most fires.
DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT :
NO-ENTRY
PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE :
Information regarding the response of western larkspur following fire
is lacking in available literature. Western larkspur was not present
in prefire communities but became an important species following
moderately severe to severe prescribed fires in trembling aspen stands
in Idaho. Its method of colonization was not determined, but it may
have invaded the burned area from other sites [2].
DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE :
NO-ENTRY
FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS :
NO-ENTRY
REFERENCES
SPECIES: Delphinium × occidentale
REFERENCES :
1. Bernard, Stephen R.; Brown, Kenneth F. 1977. Distribution of mammals,
reptiles, and amphibians by BLM physiographic regions and A.W. Kuchler's
associations for the eleven western states. Tech. Note 301. Denver, CO:
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[434]
2. Brown, James K.; DeByle, Norbert V. 1989. Effects of prescribed fire on
biomass and plant succession in western aspen. Res. Pap. INT-412. Ogden,
UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain
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through Fumariaceae. Agric. Handb. 161. Washington, DC: U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Forest Service. 254 p. [767]
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network (PIN) data base: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, Utah, and
Wyoming. FWS/OBS-83/86. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior,
Fish and Wildlife Service. 786 p. [806]
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8. Gregory, Shari. 1983. Subalpine forb community types of the
Bridger-Teton National Forest, Wyoming. Final Report. U.S. Forest
Service Cooperative Education Agreement: Contract OM 40-8555-3-115.
Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain
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Pacific Northwest. Part 2: Salicaceae to Saxifragaceae. Seattle, WA:
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Montana--identification guidebook. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-227. Ogden, UT:
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research
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16. Mueggler, Walter F. 1988. Aspen community types of the Intermountain
Region. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-250. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of
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17. Parker, Karl G. 1975. Some important Utah range plants. Extension
Service Bulletin EC-383. Logan, UT: Utah State University. 174 p.
[9878]
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poisonous plants. In: Provenza, Frederick D.; Flinders, Jerran T.;
McArthur, E. Durant, compilers. Proceedings--symposium on
plant-herbivore interactions; 1985 August 7-9; Snowbird, UT. Gen. Tech.
Rep. INT-222. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,
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19. Ralphs, M. H.; Pfister, J. A.; Olsen, J. D.; [and others]. 1989.
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20. Ralphs, M. H.; Whitson, T. D.; Ueckert, D. N. 1991. Herbicide control of
poisonous plants. Rangelands. 13(3): 73-77. [14776]
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geography. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 632 p. [2843]
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Rocky Mountain forests. Unpublished draft on file at: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Fire
Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT; RWU 4403 files. 7 p. [20090]
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American range plants. 3rd ed. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska
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types of the Shoshone National Forest. Cody, WY: U.S. Department of
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handbook. Washington, DC. 532 p. [2387]
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National list of scientific plant names. Vol. 1. List of plant names.
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27. Welsh, Stanley L.; Atwood, N. Duane; Goodrich, Sherel; Higgins, Larry
C., eds. 1987. A Utah flora. Great Basin Naturalist Memoir No. 9. Provo,
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28. Whitson, Tom D., ed. 1987. Weeds and poisonous plants of Wyoming and
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29. Mickelsen, Larry V.; Ralphs, Michael H.; Turner, David L.; [and others].
1990. Herbicidal control of duncecap larkspur (Delphinium occidentale).
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30. Pfister, James A.; Ralphs, Michael H.; Manners, Gary D.; [and others].
1993. Tall larkspur poisoning in cattle: current research and
recommendations. Rangelands. 15(4): 157-160. [21999]
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