Mountain marsh larkspur facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mountain marsh larkspur |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Delphinium
|
| Species: |
polycladon
|
The Mountain Marsh Larkspur (Delphinium polycladon) is a beautiful wild flower. It belongs to the larkspur family. This plant is known for its tall stems and pretty blue-purple flowers.
Contents
Mountain Marsh Larkspur: A High-Altitude Flower
This special plant grows in some of the highest and wettest places. It is found in the High Sierra Nevada mountains. You can also find it in the White and Inyo Mountains. These areas are in eastern California and a small part of western Nevada.
Where Does It Grow?
The Mountain Marsh Larkspur loves wet spots. It often grows in rocky areas called talus. These are slopes covered with broken rocks. Even though it grows in tough, high-up places, it finds enough water to thrive.
What Does It Look Like?
This larkspur is a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years. It grows new stems each year.
Stems and Leaves
The plant can grow quite tall. Its stems can be over a meter (about 3 feet) high. However, in very high places with thin soil, they might stay smaller. The leaves of the plant are usually small. Most of them grow near the bottom of the stem.
Flowers and Colors
The flowers grow in a cluster called an inflorescence. This cluster is a raceme, which means the flowers are arranged along a central stem. There can be up to 35 flowers on one plant. Each flower hangs from a long, S-shaped stalk called a pedicel. Sometimes, all the flowers are on just one side of the stem.
The flower parts that look like petals are actually sepals. They are a deep blue or purple color. Each sepal is about one to two centimeters long. The flowers also have a special "spur" at the back. This spur can be up to 2 centimeters long.
