Close-up of a specimen of Scarlet larkspur (Delphinium cardinale), ca.1920 (CHS-5497)

Description:

Close-up of a specimen of Scarlet larkspur (Delphinium cardinale), ca.1920 Photograph of a close-up of a specimen of Scarlet larkspur (Delphinium cardinale), ca.1920. A thin plant with fragile-looking branches is pictured at center, tiny blossoms at the tip of each branch. It is pictured against a neutral background.; "This is a large group of very beautiful annuals and perennials commonly called Larkspurs. The original or wild types from which the named varieties are descended are natives of California, Siberia, Syria and India. The Delphiniums mostly seen in gardens are hybrids of D. elatum and are clump-forming perennials that bloom from early to mid-summer. Their leaves are divided, lobed, and range from mid- to bright green. Hybrids of D. belladonna are also clump-forming perennials, but with more thin, wiry stems that produce branched spikes of spurred flowers. Dwarf annual Delphiniums are descended from D. Ajacis and tall annual Larkspurs from D. Consolida. The height of the different varieties ranges from 3 to 8 feet, with some dwarf varieties only growing up to 18 inches high. The flowers of these plants grow in long spikes. They are cup-shaped and may be single or double with colors ranging from creamy-whites through lilac-pinks to dark indigo-blue, usually with a contrasting "eye" formed by the inner sepals. D. 'Strawberry Fair' has large, semi-double, mulberry-pink flowers with white eyes on plants that grow 5A1/2 to 6 feet high. D. 'Sungleam' has large, semi-double, white overlaid with pale yellow flowers with yellow eyes. D. 'Blue Nile' grows from 5 to 5A1/2 feet high and produces large, semi-double rich, dark blue flowers with blue-streaked white eyes. D. grandiflorum 'Blue Butterfly' only grows 18 inches high and has single, dark blue flowers, growing 1A1/2 inches across. They are produced in airy, branching spikes up to 6 inches long. The bright green leaves are palmately divided. D. 'Spindrift' is an interesting plant with large, semi-double flowers that grow in 3-foot long spikes. They are a pinkish-lilac color overlaid with pale blue with creamy-white eyes, which have a deep blue center. On acidic soils, the petals become tinged with green. Other kinds will be described below in the varieties section." -- unknown author. Call number: CHS-5497 Filename: CHS-5497 Subject (file heading): Botany -- Flowers -- Assorted Part of collection: California Historical Society Collection, 1860-1960 Type: images Part of subcollection: Title Insurance and Trust, and C.C. Pierce Photography Collection, 1860-1960 Repository name: USC Libraries Special Collections Format: glass plate negatives Microfiche number: 1-82-199 Archival file: chs_Volume99/CHS-5497.tiff Repository address: Doheny Memorial Library, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0189 Format (aacr2): 2 photographs : glass plate negative, photoprint, b&w ; 26 x 21 cm., 25 x 18 cm. Rights: Digitally reproduced by the USC Digital Library; From the California Historical Society Collection at the University of Southern California Project: USC Accession number: 5497 Repository email: specol@usc.edu Contributing entity: California Historical Society Date created: circa 1920 Publisher (of the digital version): University of Southern California. Libraries Format (aat): photographic prints; photographs Legacy record ID: chs-m17398; USC-1-1-1-14212 Access conditions: Send requests to address or e-mail given. Phone (213) 821-2366; fax (213) 740-2343. Coverage date: circa 1920 Subject (lcsh): Flowers