Delphinium cardinale Hook.
Cardinal or Scarlet larkspur
Family: Ranunculaceae
Habit: Perennial with deep, thickened roots and erect, woody stems; simple or branched above, 1 to 2 m. tall, with scarlet flowers.
Distribution: Found in dry openings in coastal sage scrub, chaparral and foothill woods; from Monterey County to San Diego County and Baja California.
Seed unit: Free seed.
Seed: Quadrangular with sharp angles, 2 to 3 mm. long, dark, bumpy.
Embryo: Small basal embryo in fleshy endosperm.
Purity instructions: Pure seed definition:
AOSA: PSU #1 – Seed, with or without seed coat. Piece of broken seed, with or without seed coat, larger than one-half the original size.
ISTA: PSD #10 – Seed, with or without testa. Piece of seed larger than one-half the original size, with or without testa.
Lab Notes: Germination test can show thermal dormancy at warm temperatures.
Average pure seed units per gram: 806 seeds per gram (based on AOSA pure seed units only from 6 samples received for testing from 1993 to 2004).
Range of percent pure seed: 14 to 81%
Range of percent inert: 18 to 85%
Description of inert: Plant material, stone, broken seed, dead and live insects.
Planting instructions: 400 seeds, T, 28 days @ 15°C; for fresh and dormant seed, prechill recommended.
References: (link to main reference page)
Hickman, J.C., Ed. 1993. p. 918.
Munz, P.A. and D.D. Keck. 1968. p. 90.
Ransom Seed Laboratory
Rules for Testing Seeds, AOSA
