DELPHINIUM, a genus of herbaceous plants of the crow foot family (Ranunculaceae), comprising 15o or more species, native to north temperate regions, several of which are widely cultivated for their irregular but very showy flowers. The rocket larkspur (D. Ajacis) occurs in Great Britain and is somewhat naturalized in the eastern United States and Canada. Upwards of 4o species are natives of North America, most numerous in the Rocky Mountain region and on the Pacific coast, some of which are poisonous to grazing animals. Among the best known are the dwarf larkspur (D. tricorne), the tall larkspur (D. exalta tum), and the prairie larkspur (D. virescens) of the eastern and central States; the mountain larkspur (D. occidentale), of the central Rockies; and the cardinal larkspur (D. cardinale), and the red larkspur (D. nudicaule), of the Pacific coast. Among the most extensively cultivated forms are the rocket larkspur, native to Europe; the forking larkspur (D. Consolida), native to Asia ; the bouquet larkspurs derived from D. grandi florum, of eastern Asia ; and the candle larkspurs, probably derived chiefly from D. c1ieilanthum, of Siberia and China.