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Home/Species/ Wenatchee Larkspur

Delphinium viridescens

Leib.

Wenatchee Larkspur

G2Imperiled Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
HighThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.147393
Element CodePDRAN0B200
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderRanunculales
FamilyRanunculaceae
GenusDelphinium
Other Common Names
Wenatchee larkspur (EN)
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 Date2024-07-24
Change Date1988-06-30
Edition Date2024-07-24
Edition AuthorsGamon, J.G., WANHP botanist, rev. Gamon/Maybury (1996), rev. J. Arnett, and A. Tomaino (2012), rev. Johnson, J. (2024)
Threat ImpactHigh
Range Extent250-1000 square km (about 100-400 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 20
Rank Reasons
Delphinium viridescens is a local endemic of the Wenatchee Mountains of central Washington State. This species requires moist, meadow-like habitats. About 11 occurrences are currently known, with a total of 9000 to 13,000 individual plants. Timber management, road construction, and rural home development all potentially contribute to altered site-hydrology, which is probably the greatest threat to the species. Changes in vegetation composition resulting from ground disturbance and altered hydrologic patterns present a secondary threat.
Range Extent Comments
Delphinium viridescens is endemic to the state of Washington where it is known from the Wenatchee Mountains in Chelan and Kittitas Counties. Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1993 and 2024 (CPNWH 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1993 and 2024 , it is estimated that there are eleven occurrences range-wide, though the most recent surveys at three occurrences failed to find plants (CPNWH 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Changes in hydrology and development of habitat are the primary threats. This species is threatened by subdivision and subsequent development of rural residences (WANHP and BLM 1998). Hydrologic changes resulting from development and associated road construction also pose a significant threat (WANHP and BLM 1998). Other threats include timber harvest activities, off-road vehicle use, grazing, invasive species, road maintenance, and climate change. Forest succession to a closed canopy may also be locally significant, and disruption of natural fire cycles may enable succession at some occurrences (NatureServe 2024). This species may be vulnerable to changes in moisture availability under future climate change scenarios (Fertig 2020).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Delphinium viridescens grows in moist meadows, seasonally wet openings in aspen groves and hardwood thickets, moist microsites in open coniferous forests, springs, seeps, and riparian areas.
Most populations are associated with the Swauk Sandstone and soils are silt loams or clay loams. Fire may have played a role in creating, enlarging, and maintaining habitat openings. Larger sites were probably maintained by a relatively high water table (WNHP 2024).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - ConiferForest EdgeGrassland/herbaceous
Palustrine Habitats
HERBACEOUS WETLANDRiparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
WashingtonS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentRestricted - smallModerate or 11-30% pop. declineModerate (short-term)
1.1 - Housing & urban areasRestricted - smallModerate or 11-30% pop. declineModerate (short-term)
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureRestricted (11-30%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranchingRestricted (11-30%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
3 - Energy production & miningNegligible (<1%)Negligible or <1% pop. declineModerate (short-term)
4 - Transportation & service corridorsNegligible (<1%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroadsNegligible (<1%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5 - Biological resource useSmall (1-10%)Neutral or Potential BenefitModerate (short-term)
5.3 - Logging & wood harvestingSmall (1-10%)Neutral or Potential BenefitModerate (short-term)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceSmall (1-10%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activitiesSmall (1-10%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
7 - Natural system modificationsPervasive (71-100%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesLarge - restrictedModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8.2 - Problematic native species/diseasesSmall (1-10%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
11 - Climate change & severe weatherRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineModerate (short-term)
11.2 - DroughtsRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineModerate (short-term)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (2)
Washington (2)
AreaForestAcres
Alpine Lakes Adj.Wenatchee National Forest57,104
Devils GulchWenatchee National Forest24,419
References (11)
  1. Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria (CPNWH). 2024. Online database of vascular plant specimens from the Pacific Northwest. Online. Available: http://www.pnwherbaria.org/index.php (accessed 2024).
  2. Fertig, W. 2020a. Potential federal candidate plant species of Washington. Prepared for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Western Washington Fish and Wildlife Office, Region 1. Natural Heritage Report 2020-01. January 15, 2020. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Washington Department of Natural Resources Olympia, Washington. 97 pp. [https://www.dnr.wa.gov/publications/amp_nh_potential_candidate_sp.pdf]
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. NatureServe. 2024. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  6. Richter, T.S., P.S. Soltis, and D. E. Soltis. 1994. Genetic variation within and among populations of the narrow endemic, <i>Delphinium viridescens </i>(Ranunculaceae). American Journal of Botany 81(8): 1070-1076.
  7. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).
  8. Washington Natural Heritage Program. 1981. An illustrated guide to the endangered, threatened and sensitive vascular plants of Washington. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Olympia. 328 pp.
  9. Washington Natural Heritage Program. 1994. Endangered, threatened and sensitive vascular plants of Washington. Dept. of Natural Resources, Olympia, Washington. 52 pp.
  10. Washington Natural Heritage Program and U.S.D.I. Bureau of Land Management. 1998. Field guide to selected rare plants of Washington. Online. Available: http://www1.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/fguide/htm/fgmain.htm (accessed 2012).
  11. Washington Natural Heritage Program (WNHP). 2024. Online Field Guide to the Rare Plants of Washington. Online. Available: https://fieldguide.mt.gov/wa (accessed 2024).