Colorado Plants Injurious to Livestock 29 
The stockman should thoroughly familiarize himself with the appear¬ 
ance of young larkspur plants. 
There are a number of species of larkspur growing in Colorado, 
the principal ones being as follows: purple, or Nelson’s larkspur 
(Delphinium nelsonii), Geyer’s larkspur (Delphinium geyeri), Pen- 
hard’s larkspur (Delphinium carolinianum penhardii), subalpine 
larkspur (Delphinium subalpinum), and tall larkspur (Delphinium 
r/laucescens). 
Purple, or Nelson’s Larkspur (Delphinium nelsonii). —The 
easily detachable cluster of thickened tuberous roots (fig. 38) is char¬ 
acteristic of this species. The plant (figs. 27 and 37) rarely exceeds 
2 feet in height; about i foot is its common height. The leaves are 
divided into a large number of narrow segments. The flowers are 
blue, the two petals, not prolonged as spurs, each have a cobwebby 
tuft of white hairs in the center of the broad blade, on the outer sur¬ 
face. The fruit (fig. 24) may be smooth or hairy. 
This species is the earliest of the larkspurs. It may be seen in 
bloom as earl}^ as April 20 at low altitudes. In the foothills it is usu¬ 
ally past blooming by Tune i.* 
Its altitudinal distribution is from 4,000 to 10,000 feet. It is 
found all over the state within these limits. 
Geyer’s Larkspur (Delphinium geyeri) (figs. 28 and 40).—^This 
is a taller plant than the preceding, ranging in height from 10 inches 
to over 2 feet. The root is thickened and somewhat woody. There 
is a cluster of thick, dull-green leaves at the base of the’ plant; they 
are cut into numerous long, narrow segments, each segment being 
tipped with a white hardened point. The flowers are blue. 
This larkspur is a plant of low altitudes, seldom growing above 
7.000 feet. It blooms during the first part of July. 
Penhard’s Larkspur (Delphinium carolinianum penhardii ).— 
Lfie. 3Q). This species grows to about the same height as the pre¬ 
ceding, and may often be found alongside it, occupying the same sort 
of habitat, and in bloom at the same time. The flowers are usually 
white, sometimes light blue or greenish white. The spur commonly 
points upward, being parallel with the main stem. The petals are cov¬ 
ered with long, soft hairs. 
Subalpine Larkspur (Delphinium subalpinum). —This larkspur 
has a large woody root, and frequently grows to a height of 4 or 5 
feet, although it may be much smaller. The leaves are not as finely 
divided as those of the three preceding species; they are divided into 
about 5 main divisions, each of which is further divided. The inflo¬ 
rescence also differs from the preceding, being dense and short, rather 
than loose and lengthened. The flowers are very deep blue. The 
fruit is short and smooth. 
This is a ]ffant of high altitudes, frequent at 10,000 to ii.ooo 
feet, but often found as low at 8,000 feet, and above timber line. 
It is found in moist, rather shady situations and forms characteristic 
large <'Tns^ b^dc. 
Tall Larkspur fDelphiniAim glaucescetis). —In this, several stems 
arise from a thick, woody root. The plant stands i to 5 feet high. 
