Delphinium hansenii
Delphinium andersonii
Eldorado larkspur, Hansen's delphinium, Hansen's larkspur
Anderson larkspur, Anderson's larkspur, desert larkspur
(25-)40-80(-180) cm;
base usually reddish, pubescent.
(20-)30-60(-90) cm;
base reddish, glabrous.
blade pentagonal, 1.5-5 × 2.5-8 cm, long-pubescent, especially abaxially; ultimate lobes 0-18, width 4-20 mm (basal), 2-9 mm (cauline).
blade round, 1.5-4 × 2-6 cm, nearly glabrous; ultimate lobes 5-30, width 2-8 mm (basal), 1-4 mm (cauline);
lobe width of proximal leaves less than 4 mm.
(9-)15-40(-160)-flowered, dense to open;
pedicel 0.3-2.5(-6) cm, puberulent;
bracteoles 1-5(-8) mm from flowers, green, sometimes white-margined, linear-lanceolate, 2-6(-8) mm, puberulent.
10-25-flowered, cylindric;
pedicel sigmoid (proximally spreading, distally ascending), 1-4(-6.8) cm, glabrous to puberulent;
bracteoles 2-6(-8) mm from flowers, green, linear, 4-6(-11) mm, ± puberulent.
sepals violet to white, ± puberulent, lateral sepals spreading to forward pointing, 7-10(-13) × 3-6(-8) mm, spurs gently upcurved, ascending 0-30° above horizontal, (6-)9-13(-16) mm;
lower petal blades elevated, ± exposing stamens, 3-7 mm, cleft 1-2(-4) mm;
hairs centered, densest on inner lobes near base of cleft, white.
sepals dark blue, nearly glabrous, lateral sepals spreading to reflexed, 9-16 × 3-7 mm, spurs horizontal to slightly ascending, often decurved apically, 12-18 mm;
lower petal blades elevated, ± exposing stamens, 4-8 mm, clefts 1-4 mm;
hairs centered, mostly between claw and base of cleft, white.
8-20 mm, 2.2-4 times longer than wide, glabrous.
17-32 mm, 4-5.5 times longer than wide, glabrous.
echinate, appearing fuzzy to naked eye;
seed coat cells with margins straight, surfaces sparsely pustulate.
seed coat cells ± brick-shaped, cell margins ± undulate, surfaces smooth.
= 16.
Delphinium hansenii
Delphinium andersonii
Subspecies 3 (3 in the flora).
Although Delphinium hansenii has often been confused with D. hesperium, seeds will instantly allow identification. Seeds of Delphinium hansenii are, as far as known, unique, bearing numerous, elongate, prismlike raised structures (extensions of single cells or small groups of cells) over the entire seed coat. If seeds are absent, larger flowers, more open inflorescences (except in D. hesperium subsp. cuyamacae), and general absence of pubescence of long hairs in D. hesperium are apparent upon comparison of the two species. Separating D. hansenii from D. variegatum may also be difficult. Again, seeds leave no doubt. In addition, smaller flowers and greater number of flowers per plant of D. hansenii should serve to distinguish D. hansenii from D. variegatum. White-flowered D. hansenii has been confused with D. gypsophilum and with D. hesperium subsp. pallescens. Other than seeds, pubescence of long hairs and smaller flowers present in D. hansenii and absent in the others will distinguish them.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
In much of its range Delphinium andersonii hybridizes occasionally with members of the D. nuttallianum complex and apparently with D. parishii in at least one site in California. These three taxa, with D. scaposum, form an interesting group in that they appear to be ecological replacements for one another, with D. parishii occupying arid, hot deserts to the south and southwest, D. andersonii growing in cooler, higher latitude and altitude deserts farther north, D. scaposum in cool deserts farther east, and D. nuttallianum at higher elevations in much of the geographic range of the other three species. Delphinium andersonii is often mistaken for D. nuttallianum. Most individuals of D. andersonii (roots much larger and more fibrous; stems solidly attached to roots; fruits long, narrow, erect; inflorescences usually longer and narrower at base; and pedicel sigmoid) can easily be distinguished from D. nuttallianum (roots smaller and not fibrous; stems tenuously attached to roots; fruits shorter, proportionally thicker, spreading; inflorescences relatively shorter and wider at base; and pedicel nearly straight).
Although roots of Delphinium andersonii are quite similar to those of D. antoninum, the two taxa may be readily distinguished by most features that separate D. nuttallianum from D. andersonii. The name Delphinium menziesii was misapplied to D. andersonii by S. Watson.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Sepals reddish purple to dark maroon. | subsp. ewanianum |
1. Sepals dark blue-purple to white. | → 2 |
2. Leaves primarily basal (although leaves may be dry at anthesis and thus lost in herbarium specimens, petiole base will be present); cauline leaves usually fewer than 3; sepals bright blue to white. | subsp. kernense |
2. Leaves primarily cauline, basal leaves usually absent at anthesis; cauline leaves 3 or more; sepals dark blue-purple to white or pink. | subsp. hansenii |
CA
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
OR
Flora NW
PNW Herbaria
