“What is that tall blue flower? I can see it from my kitchen window.” My neighbor was intrigued by the bursts of growth and color in my ever-expanding garden.
“Delphinium,” I said. “It was here when we moved in. Stunning, isn’t it?”
“It certainly is.”
我以为它更像紫色而不是蓝色。但那些被小堆小花覆盖着的高高的穗状花序却成了一件谈资。我以前从未种过飞燕草。我发现一株大植物已经稳稳地长在我所谓的写作窗口前(我每天都坐在这个窗口前的一张老式的小书桌前写作),这是一种额外的收获。
遗憾的是,这些花的寿命很短。每一株花茎都长得很高,顶端都长着大量的花,只需要一场大雨就把它们打翻了,把它们打翻在草地上。I enjoyed it while I could, and after my first summer, I sunk a tall rose climber into the ground to support the top-heavy stalks and protect them from heavy rain.
Part of a genus ofover 300 species (Ranunculaceae), my specific delphinium is actually a cultivar, cultivated as an ornamental plant. And that it definitely is! It certainly lives up to its symbolic associations. All plants have symbolic associations and delphinium issymbolically big-hearted and fun. I know mine is.
Mostly found in the northern hemisphere and in some of the high mountains of tropical Africa, delphinium is also known byits common name of larkspur. It’s important to note that all the members of the delphinium family aretoxic to both humans and livestock.
The plant is tall, gracious and laden with many flowers, each sporting usually five petal-like sepals surrounding a hollow pocket with a spur at the end (perhaps the source of its common name, larkspur). The stalk or the raceme (which is sometimes as tall as 2 meters) is unbranched and full of flowers, from almost halfway up the stalk to its tip. The leaves fan out from the raceme, each deeply lobed with three to seven toothed projections. At a distance, the leaves almost bear a resemblance to the shape and size of a maple tree leaf.
I always watch with anticipation from late June until the full heat of summer brings along the burst of blooms. A great pollinator plant, delphiniums attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees, and I get to watch the entire show from beyond my writing window. In spite of its high level of toxicity, delphinium is food to various larvae like the dot moth.
This toxic plant is dangerous, especially the younger parts of the plant. If consumed by humans, it will cause severe digestive issues, and if touched, it can cause severe skin irritation. All parts of the plantcontain poisonous chemicals,包括各种二萜生物碱,如甲基甜菜碱。甚至连种子都有毒,生物碱含量只有1.4%。
With its cardiotoxic and neuromuscular blocking effects, consumption of any part of this plant can cause death within hours. This is a big concern for ranchers in the western rangelands of the United States. The wild varieties of delphinium (larkspur) are theroot cause of cattle poisoningscausing death. Consequently, ranchers often delay moving their cattle to the higher elevations until later in the summer when larkspur is considerably less toxic.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bosp0ILHkx_/?tagged=delphinium
Delphinium is not totally useless. Other than a good pollinator, the juice of the flowers when mixed with alum creates a blue ink. And some people doconsider this plant an herb,and they use the stalks and roots to make a poultice for skin ailments, inflammation, wounds, and snake bite. The root, when made into a powder, is believed to control pain. Some also claim the plant is useful to create treatments for acid reflux, anorexia, and asthma.
Personally, knowing its high level of toxicity, I would be wary of any medicinal uses for this plant. The ornamental beauty is so short-lived, I like to think of delphinium as my garden treasure: Something to be enjoyed in full bloom and a plant that attracts all kinds of multi-colored and fascinating pollinators.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BomQatznki6/?tagged=delphinium
Delphinium is an ornamental plant. One that benefits the pollinators. With the concern over the declining population of pollinators like honeybees, that in itself gives this beautiful summer plant a purpose other than looking “pretty”’. Tall and gracious, it makes a perfect backdrop to other ornamental plants like roses, lilies, and geraniums.
Andrew Oludotunsays
Why are beautiful flowers and plats like this poisonous?
Thanks for the post. It’s really enlightening.
Jane Archersays
I did not know about this flower. It is very impressive and pretty, however, what you wrote makes me apprehensive about planting it.
Thank you for a very interesting post.
Pauline Morrellsays
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I tried to break the flower so it would flower again, little did I know it would turn my finger black. It was a worry. From now on I will use gloves and cut the flowers with scissors. What should I do to treat this.
Premasays
How enlightening this is!!! I happen to note this flower name for study when I heard in #thehuntsmanmovie it is good for toothache and piles when the dwarves were getting to know each other. I won’t dare be the cause of planting another poisonous plant… So ironic my favorite flowers turn out to have dire effects on people…
Elsie Ponasensays
我喜欢粉色飞燕草种子,可以给我一些吗?Thank you