BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Delphinium × occidentale | Duncecap Larkspur 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Duncecap 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 : 
Duncecap larkspur reproduces by seed [4,17].  Seeds may be stored in the
soil [25].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Duncecap 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
duncecap 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 : 
Facultative Seral Species

Duncecap larkspur grows well in open to shaded sites [3,25].  In
subalpine forb communities of the Bridger-Teton National Forest,
Wyoming, duncecap 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].  Duncecap 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 : 
Duncecap larkspur begins growth in late spring.  It flowers in July and
August and the seeds mature from August to September [23].

Related categories for Species: Delphinium × occidentale | Duncecap Larkspur