Terrestrial dolphins

Delphinium barbeyi, July 19, 2022

Common & scientific name
Subalpine larkspur, Delphinium barbeyi

Family
Buttercup, Ranunculaceae

Location
Linkins Lake Trail, 11,600’

Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
A giant of the subalpine, look for it growing over six feet tall near monkshood, bluebells, cow parsnip, and triangle-leaved senecio.  “Delphinium” is from the Latin “delphinus” meaning dolphin.  With a little imagination, its spike of purple flowers looks like a pod of swimming dolphins.