Delphinium barbeyi

Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
Order:
Ranunculales
Family:
Ranunculaceae
Genus:
Delphinium
Species:
D. barbeyi
Binomial name
Delphinium barbeyi

Delphinium barbeyi is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family known by the
common names subalpine larkspur, tall larkspur, and Barbey's larkspur.[1] It is native to
the interior western United States, where it occurs in the states of Arizona, Colorado, New
Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.[2]
This species is a perennial herb growing up to 1.5 meters tall. The leaves line the stem but
disappear from the lowest part of the stem by the time the plant blooms. The leaves are
somewhat rounded in outline and are divided into several lobes. The tall inflorescence bears
up to 50 flowers at a time,[2] but a plant may produce hundreds of flowers.[3] Each is borne on
a pedicel up to 6 centimeters long. The flower has five dark purple-blue sepals with whitish
or yellowish hairs inside. The fruit is a follicle up to 2.2 centimeters long.[2]
The plant is long-lived, capable of exceeding 75 years of age.[4]
It occupies wet habitat types in subalpine and alpine climates.[2] It is a dominant member of
the herb layer in many places. It can often be found growing beneath aspens.[5]

This Delphinium commonly hybridizes with its relative, Delphinium glaucum. Hybrids may
be more common in the habitat than individuals of the parent species. The hybrid is
sometimes called the duncecap larkspur (Delphinium occidentale).[6] D. barbeyi also
hybridizes with Delphinium ramosum and D. sapellonis.[2]
Bumblebees and hummingbirds use the nectar from the flowers.[7] The bee species Bombus
nevadensis, Bombus insularis, Bombus appositus and B. flavifrons and the hummingbirds
Selasphorus platycercus, S. rufus, and Stellula calliope have been observed. Both types of
pollinators prefer the larkspurs with the largest flower displays.[3] The sphinx moth Hyles
lineata and anthomyiid flies also visit the flowers.[8]
All members of the Delphinium genus are toxic to humans and livestock.[9] Many species of
larkspurs are known for being poisonous, and as hazards to livestock. This species is
notorious as one of the toxic plants most commonly responsible for livestock death,
especially cattle fatalities on the rangelands of Colorado and Utah.[10] Sheep are much less
susceptible.[11] Up to 15% of a cow herd can be lost to poisoning in areas where this larkspur
and its hybrids are common. The cost to ranchers is in the millions of dollars.[12] Abundance
of larkspur has persuaded ranchers to remove their animals from some areas of rangeland, or
use the land only at certain times of the year. The plant contains many toxic alkaloids.[13] The
alkaloids barbinine and barbinidine were first isolated from this species.[14] The most
hazardous are called methyl succidimido anthramoyl lycoctomine (MSAL) diterpenoids.
About two kilograms dry weight of the plant is estimated to provide a fatal dose of alkaloid.
[13]
Paralysis occurs and death is caused by respiratory paralysis.[12] Toxicity reactions in
animals, sometimes called larkspur toxicosis, can be treated with physostigmine.[13][12]
Ranchers sometimes attempt to control this larkspur with the herbicide tebuthiuron.[10]
Glyphosate and picloram have been effective in research trials,[15] but these chemicals kill
nontarget plants as well, accelerating the invasion of weeds into the habitat.[