Images
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Morphology
- Stem
- Erect, glabrous or sparsely and minutely pubescent.
- Leaves
- Cauline, alternate; petiole present or absent; blade simple, broadly ovate to nearly round in outline, .8 to 2.4 inch long, .6 to 2 inches wide, margins deeply palmately dissected, surfaces glabrous or puberulent.
- Inflorescence
- Racemes, 5-50(-80)-flowered, terminal; involucral bracts absent.
- Flower
- Bilaterally symmetric; sepals 5, white, pink, blue, or purple, .4 to .6 inch, upper sepal spurred; petals 2, connate, white, pink, blue, or purple, spurred, spurs enclosed within spur of upper sepal, lobes 1/6 to 1/3 inch; stamens 15-25; pistils 1; style persistent; stigma 1.
- Fruit
- Follicles, cylindric, .5 to 1 inch, minutely pubescent; beak terminal, straight, 1/25 to 1/12 inch; seeds dark brown to black, angled.
Ecology
- Habitat
- Roadsides, pastures, disturbed sites
- Distribution
- Throughout Kansas
Practical Information
- Uses
- The Cherokee took an infusion to treat heart ailments.
Additional Notes
Comments
Consolida, to become solid, alluding to the supposed wound-healing abilities and ajacis, for the Greek hero Ajax, alluding to the shield-like marks on the petals.
Synonyms
Alternative scientific names that have been used for this plant.
Scientific Name: Delphinium ajacis
Full Citation: Delphinium ajacis L.
Quick Facts
- Plant Type
- Wildflower
- Family
- Ranunculaceae - Buttercup Family
- Life Span
- Annual
- Height
- 12-40 inches
- Origin
- Introduced
- Last Updated
- 2015-06-29
Color Groups
Pink, Red & Orange Wildflowers
Blue, Purple, Lavender & Violet Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Blooms: June, July, August