Delphinium hansenii
Delphinium geraniifolium
Eldorado larkspur, Hansen's delphinium, Hansen's larkspur
Clark Valley larkspur, Mogollon larkspur
(25-)40-80(-180) cm;
base usually reddish, pubescent.
60-100 cm;
base reddish, puberulent, midstems pubescent.
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 dark green, at least adaxially, fan-shaped to reniform, 2-5 × 3-7 cm, pubescent, especially abaxially; ultimate lobes 5-15, width 4-15 mm (basal lobes 5-15 mm), apex abruptly tapered, usually mucronate;
veins prominent.
(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.
20-90-flowered, dense, cylindric;
pedicel ascending to spreading, 1-2 cm, puberulent;
bracteoles 1-2 mm from flowers, green, linear, 4-6 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 to purple, puberulent, lateral sepals spreading to slightly forward pointing, 10-14 × 3-5 mm, spurs ascending 20-70°, truncate or downcurved apically, 12-15 mm;
lower petal blades slightly elevated, ± exposing stamens, 4-6 mm, clefts 0.5-2 mm;
hairs sparse, local below junction of blade and claw, scattered on margins, white.
8-20 mm, 2.2-4 times longer than wide, glabrous.
13-18 mm, 3-3.5 times longer than wide, puberulent.
echinate, appearing fuzzy to naked eye;
seed coat cells with margins straight, surfaces sparsely pustulate.
unwinged;
seed coat cells with margins straight, surfaces ± roughened.
= 16.
Delphinium hansenii
Delphinium geraniifolium
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.)
Delphinium geraniifolium is a more pubescent analog of the closely related D. scopulorum, the former occurring in heavier soils at higher elvation.
(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
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USDA Plants Database
