Prairie larkspur

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Prairie larkspur

Prairie larkspur

Prairie larkspur leaf

Prairie larkspur

Prairie larkspur fruit

Prairie larkspur flowers

Prairie larkspur sepal spur

Prairie larkspur flowers

Prairie larkspur leaf

Prairie larkspur inflorescence

Prairie larkspur

Prairie larkspur

Morphology

Stem

Erect, stout, 1 to several, sparsely branched or unbranched, soft-hairy, some hairs glandular.

Leaves

Alternate, lower long-stalked, often crowded, upper nearly sessile, somewhat rounded in outline, 1 to 3 inches long, 1/2 to 1 inch wide, deeply palmately divided, 3-7-lobed; lobes further divided into linear-lanceolate segments, pubescent; tips pointed.

Inflorescence

Racemes, spike-like, 4 to 10 inches long, 5-50-flowered.

Flower

Calyces 5-parted, sepals petal-like, white to bluish, uppermost sepal extending backward as horizontal spur 1/2 to 3/4 inch long; petals 4, whitish, upper 2 petals extending backward into sepal spur, lower 2 petals bearded; stamens numerous.

Fruit

Groups of 3 pods, erect, 1/2 to 3/4 inch long, minutely pubescent; seeds numerous, scaly, brown.

Ecology

Habitat

Open prairies, pastures, and hillsides, in all soil types.

Distribution

Throughout Kansas.

Practical Information

Toxicity

Prairie larkspur is poisonous to cattle, which find it palatable. Horses and sheep are less inclined to eat it. All parts of the plant are toxic, whether fresh or dried in hay. Poisoning can result in impairment of the nervous system and respiratory failure.

Additional Notes

Synonyms

Alternative scientific names that have been used for this plant.