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Delphinium glaucescens

Rydb.

Electric Peak Larkspur

G4Apparently Secure Found in 5 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.146907
Element CodePDRAN0B0N0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderRanunculales
FamilyRanunculaceae
GenusDelphinium
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-08-11
Change Date2025-08-11
Edition Date2025-04-10
Edition AuthorsMacBryde, Bruce (2000), rev. Johnson, J. (2025)
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
Delphinium glaucescens is a regionally endemic perennial herb from the western United States in central Idaho, southwestern Montana, and northwestern Wyomingwhere it grows on rocky slopes in subalpine dry meadows, sagebrush, and coniferous woods. Population sizes and trends are poorly documented. Its habitat is largely remote and intact, and threats to populations appear to be low. Challenges in identification have resulted in this species being underrepresented in herbarium collections.
Range Extent Comments
Delphinium glaucescens is found in the western United States in the mountains of central Idaho, southwest Montana, and Yellowstone National Park in northwest Wyoming (FNA 1997, CPNWH 2025). Range extent was estimated at 30,000 sq km using herbarium specimens, photo-based observation data, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1994 and 2025, and estimated at 105,000 sq km when historical collections are included (CPNWH 2025, GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, Rocky Mountain Herbarium Database 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are 33 occurrences rangewide (CPNWH 2025, GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, Rocky Mountain Herbarium Database 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
Many occurrences are protected on federally managed land and threats are thought to be low across the species range (Montana Natural Heritage Program 2024). While grazing is allowed in many occurrences, rocky, upland habitats are not favored by cattle and the plants are probably poisonous like many other delphinium species. Examination of satellite imagery shows recreational trails near some occurrences (RARECAT 2025). Fire is less common but possible at higher elevations, though herbaceous plants are likely to survive low-severity fires.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Delphinium glaucescens grows in dry montane meadows, sagebrush steppe, and open subalpine conifer woodlands (Montana Natural Heritage Program 2024, FNA 1997).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - ConiferShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceous
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
MontanaS3Yes
IdahoS3Yes
WyomingSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureRestricted (11-30%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranchingRestricted (11-30%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceRestricted (11-30%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activitiesRestricted (11-30%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
7 - Natural system modificationsRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineModerate (short-term)
7.1 - Fire & fire suppressionRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineModerate (short-term)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (5)
Idaho (2)
AreaForestAcres
Borah PeakSalmon-Challis National Forest130,463
Lemhi RangeSalmon-Challis National Forest308,533
Montana (3)
AreaForestAcres
Freezeout MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest97,305
Garfield MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest41,891
Goat MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest9,348
References (12)
  1. Booth, W.E., and J.C. Wright. 1966. Flora of Montana: Dicotyledons, Part II. Montana State Univ., Bozeman. 305 pp.
  2. Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria (CPNWH). 2025. Online database of vascular plant specimens from the Pacific Northwest. Online. Available: http://www.pnwherbaria.org/index.php (accessed 2025).
  3. Davis, R.J. 1952. Flora of Idaho. Brigham Young Univ. Press, Provo, UT. 836 pp.
  4. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 1997. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 3. Magnoliophyta: Magnoliidae and Hamamelidae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiii + 590 pp.
  5. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  6. iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
  7. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  8. Montana Natural Heritage Program. 2024. Montana Field Guide. Online. Available: http://fieldguide.mt.gov (Accessed 2024).
  9. NatureServe. 2025. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  10. NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2024. Version: 1.1.1 (released Oct 01, 2024).
  11. Rocky Mountain Herbarium Database. 2025. Rocky Mountain Herbarium & the University of Wyoming Department of Botany. Laramie, Wyoming. Access: www.rmh.uwyo.edu.
  12. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2025. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2025).