Delphinium alabamicum Kral

Alabama Larkspur

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

<strong>Alabama Larkspur</strong> is a native herbaceous perennial in the Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). Up until recently it was thought to be endemic to Alabama, but new collections from NW Georgia have ended that status. Alabama Larkspur occurs in central and north Alabama. It grows in calcareous woods, around the wooded margins of prairies, and on the floodplain of streams. It is a perennial with a tap root. Leaves are mostly basal with 1-3 cauline leaves. The basal leaves are petiolate, reniform to semicircular in outline, and deeply palmately lobed. The leaves are nearly glabrous. Cauline leaves are alternate and similar to the basal leaves but with short peduncles or sessile. Flowers are produced in a terminal raceme. The pedicel and sepals are pubescent. Each flower has 5 dark blue sepals, the upper one spurred. There are 4 dark blue petals. The fruit is a follicle. <strong>Alabama Larkspur</strong> is listed as a S2 species in Alabama (typically 6 to 20 occurrences, few remaining individuals, acres, or miles of stream, or factors demonstrably making it very vulnerable in the state), and globally as a G2 species (imperiled globally because of rarity (6 - 20 occurrences, or few remaining acres, or miles of stream) or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors). <strong>Alabama Larkspur</strong> is occasionally available from native plant nurseries. It prefers a rich, basic soil high in organic matter and light shade.--<em>A. Diamond and B.R. Keener</em>

In citing the holotype, Kral designated the US Herbarium in the protologue. Warnock (1989) discovered three specimens at US matching the Type details without an indication of which was the holotype. This necessitated the designation of a lectotype (US-00901606) leaving the remaining two specimens at US as isotypes.--<em>B.R. Keener</em>

Native S2 (State Rank) G2 (Global Rank)

Warnock, M.J. Clarification and lectotypifications of some North American Delphinium. Phytologia 67(6): 468-493.