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[[File:Wenatchee-Larkspur.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Wenatchee larkspur, located along Camas Creek Road in eastern [[Washington State|Washington]]]]

The '''Wenatchee larkspur''' (Delphinium viridescens) is a [[rare]] [[plant]] species native to the [[United States|U.S.]], located in the Wenatchee Mountains region, and is a part of the [[Ranunculaceae]] family, also known as the Buttercup family.<ref>http://www.cwnp.org/flora/listr.html</ref> The Wenatchee Larkspur is generally described as a [[perennial]] forb/[[herb]].<ref>USDA Plants. [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=DEVI2 PLANTS Profile for Delphinium viridescens (Wenatchee larkspur)], Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Accessed July 2010.</ref> The scientific name of the Wenatchee larkspur is Delphinium viridescens, and is a local plant in the mountains southwest of Wenatchee, [[Washington State|Washington]].  

|image=Wenatchee-Larkspur.jpg

|caption=Wenatchee larkspur, located along Camas Creek Road in eastern [[Washington State|Washington]]

The '''Wenatchee larkspur''', a Delphinium viridescens, is a [[rare]] [[plant]] species native to the [[United States|U.S.]], located in the Wenatchee Mountains region, and is a part of the [[Ranunculaceae]] family, also known as the Buttercup family.<ref>http://www.cwnp.org/flora/listr.html</ref> The Wenatchee Larkspur is generally described as a [[perennial]] forb/[[herb]].<ref>USDA Plants. [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=DEVI2 PLANTS Profile for Delphinium viridescens (Wenatchee larkspur)], Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Accessed July 2010.</ref> The scientific name of the Wenatchee larkspur is Delphinium viridescens, and is a local plant in the mountains southwest of Wenatchee, [[Washington State|Washington]].  

Established in 1989, the Camas Meadows Natural Area Preserve contains the largest known populations of two rare plant species, the Wenatchee Mountains checkermallow and the Wenatchee larkspur. These plants grow only in the Wenatchee Mountains region, they are not found anywhere else in the world. The Wenatchee larkspur can be found on Camas Land, and along Camas Creek Road and the trails surrounding Camas Creek.

Established in 1989, the Camas Meadows Natural Area Preserve contains the largest known populations of two rare plant species, the [[Wenatchee Mountains checkermallow]] and the Wenatchee larkspur. These plants grow only in the Wenatchee Mountains region, they are not found anywhere else in the world. The Wenatchee larkspur can be found on Camas Land, and along Camas Creek Road and the trails surrounding Camas Creek.

==Origin and History==

==Origin and History==

==Species Description==

==Species Description==

Delphinium viridescens is local in mountains southwest of Wenatchee, Washington. Flowering season for the Wenatchee larkspur is in the summer, most notably in July. Peak anthesis occurs during mid-summer (July). Fruits mature and begin dispersal by late September.<ref>Delphinium viridescens : Wenatchee Larkspur, [http://www1.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/fguide/pdf/devi.pdf PDF] (Accessed 2010).</ref> The Wenatchee larkspur plant is located mostly in wet meadows and stream sides in coniferous forest, heavy clay soils.<ref>[[University of Washington]]. [http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection.php?ID=3709 WTU Herbarium Image Collection], Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, (2010).</ref> Wenatchee larkspur is a stout perennial from a short rhizome, 2-4 feet fall, glabrous below but with copious stalked, yellow glands above and throughout the inflorescence. The stem is hollow.

Wenatchee larkspur, a Delphinium viridescens, is a [[native]] plant to the mountains southwest of Wenatchee, Washington. Flowering season is in the summer, most notably in July. Peak anthesis occurs during mid-summer (July). Fruits mature and begin dispersal by late September.<ref>Delphinium viridescens : Wenatchee Larkspur, [http://www1.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/fguide/pdf/devi.pdf PDF] (Accessed 2010).</ref> Delphinium viridescens can be located mostly in wet meadows and stream sides in coniferous forest, heavy clay soils.<ref>[[University of Washington]]. [http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection.php?ID=3709 WTU Herbarium Image Collection], Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, (2010).</ref>  

* [[Leaves]]: Basal and lower cauline leaves long-petiolate, the blades up to 10 cm. broad, divided into three main wedge-shaped lobes, these once or twice cleft into oblong-rounded segments; mid-cauline leaves short-petiolate and overlapping, nearly erect, divided into narrow, acute segments, abruptly transitional to the lower leaves, but gradually transitional to the linear, entire, bract-like upper leaves.

* [[Leaves]]: Basal and lower cauline leaves long-petiolate, the blades up to 10 cm. broad, divided into three main wedge-shaped lobes, these once or twice cleft into oblong-rounded segments; mid-cauline leaves short-petiolate and overlapping, nearly erect, divided into narrow, acute segments, abruptly transitional to the lower leaves, but gradually transitional to the linear, entire, bract-like upper leaves.

* [[Fruit]]: Follicles 6-8 mm. long, erect, densely glandular-pubescent.

* [[Fruit]]: Follicles 6-8 mm. long, erect, densely glandular-pubescent.

The lower leaves of the Wenatchee larkspur are approximately four inches broad and are divided into 3-5 main lobes, each further dissected.  The upper leaves on the Wenatchee larkspur are [[linear]] and entire or linearly lobed. The diagnostic features include dense yellow hairs on the upper stem and flower cluster and yellowish to purple petals, and purplish sepals that are predominantly streaked with yellow.<ref>http://www.conservapedia.com/File:Wenatchee_Larkspur.jpg</ref>  The long spur of the Wenatchee larkspur flowers is generally reddish-purple, although some are pale greenish-yellow.

Stout [[perennial]] from a short rhizome, 2-4 feet fall, glabrous below but with copious stalked, yellow glands above and throughout the inflorescence, the stem of a Delphinium viridescens is hollow. The lower leaves are approximately four inches broad and are divided into 3-5 main lobes, each further dissected.  The upper leaves on the Wenatchee larkspur are [[linear]] and entire or linearly lobed. The diagnostic features include dense yellow hairs on the upper stem and flower cluster and yellowish to purple petals, and purplish sepals that are predominantly streaked with yellow.<ref>http://www.conservapedia.com/File:Wenatchee_Larkspur.jpg</ref>  The long spur of the Wenatchee larkspur flowers is generally reddish-purple, although some are pale greenish-yellow.

===Identification===   

===Identification===   

Delphinium viridescens is one of a group of tall Delphinium species that occur in the Wenatchee Mountains. Delphinium viridescens most closely resembles Delphinium multiplex, but may be distinguished using the following characters: Delphinium viridescens is typically 3-5 ft. tall; sepals are iridescent purplish-yellow or greenish-yellow; and in some instances, the degree of basal and cauline leaf dissection has been observed to be greater in Delphinium viridescens, although immature specimens of Delphinium viridescens and Delphinium multiplex cannot readily be distinguished on this character.   

Delphinium viridescens is one of a group of tall Delphinium species that occur in the Wenatchee Mountains. Delphinium viridescens most closely resembles Delphinium multiplex, but may be distinguished using the following characters: Delphinium viridescens is typically 3-5 feet tall; sepals are iridescent purplish-yellow or greenish-yellow; and in some instances, the degree of basal and cauline leaf dissection has been observed to be greater in Delphinium viridescens, although immature specimens of Delphinium viridescens and Delphinium multiplex cannot readily be distinguished on this character.   

===Ecology===  

===Ecology===  

===Technical data===

===Technical data===

Wenatchee larkspur stems 90-150 cm; base usually green, glabrous. Leaves cauline, 17-30 at anthesis; petiole 0.2-8 cm. Leaf blade cuneate to semicircular, 2-5 × 3-12 cm, nearly glabrous; ultimate lobes 3-21, width 1-8 mm. Inflorescences 25-80-flowered, dense; pedicel 0.5-2 cm, glandular-pubescent; bracteoles 1-4 mm from flowers, green, lanceolate, 3.5-6 mm, glandular-pubescent. Flowers: sepals yellowish green, nearly glabrous, lateral sepals forward pointing, 7-9 × 3-4 mm, spurs decurved, 30-45° below horizontal, often hooked apically, 8-11 mm; lower petal blades ± covering stamens, 4-6 mm, clefts 0.5-1.5 mm; hairs centered, mostly near junction of blade and claw, yellow. Fruits 8-11 mm, 2.5-3 times longer than wide, puberulent. Seeds ± wing-margined; seed coat cells with surfaces ± roughened.

Delphinium viridescens stems 90-150 cm; base usually green, glabrous. Leaves cauline, 17-30 at anthesis; petiole 0.2-8 cm. Leaf blade cuneate to semicircular, 2-5 × 3-12 cm, nearly glabrous; ultimate lobes 3-21, width 1-8 mm. Inflorescences 25-80-flowered, dense; pedicel 0.5-2 cm, glandular-pubescent; bracteoles 1-4 mm from flowers, green, lanceolate, 3.5-6 mm, glandular-pubescent. Flowers: sepals yellowish green, nearly glabrous, lateral sepals forward pointing, 7-9 × 3-4 mm, spurs decurved, 30-45° below horizontal, often hooked apically, 8-11 mm; lower petal blades ± covering stamens, 4-6 mm, clefts 0.5-1.5 mm; hairs centered, mostly near junction of blade and claw, yellow. Fruits 8-11 mm, 2.5-3 times longer than wide, puberulent. Seeds ± wing-margined; seed coat cells with surfaces ± roughened.

==Washington State Status==   

==Washington State Status==   

The species is confined to a small total range and apparently a very specific set of habitat conditions. It is suggested that appropriate habitats within the range of this species should continue to be inventoried.  

The Wenatchee larkspur is confined to a small total range and apparently a very specific set of habitat conditions. It is suggested that appropriate habitats within the range of this species should continue to be inventoried.  

===Natural Area Preserves===

===Natural Area Preserves===