Delphinium hansenii
Delphinium uliginosum
Eldorado larkspur, Hansen's delphinium, Hansen's larkspur
swamp larkspur
(25-)40-80(-180) cm;
base usually reddish, pubescent.
10-30(-70) cm;
base reddish or not, nearly 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 obdeltoid, apically several parted, 1-8 × 1-7 cm, ± fleshy, glabrous; ultimate lobes 0-3, width 3-20 mm (cauline only);
margins of basal leaf, measured less than 1 cm from blade base, demarcating less than 90° of arc when leaf laid flat.
(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.
5-20(-48)-flowered, ± open;
pedicel 0.3-3(-10) cm, glabrous to puberulent;
bracteoles 2-3(-5) mm from flowers, green to blue, lanceolate-linear, 3-4(-7) 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, 9-15 × 5-8 mm, spurs usually upcurved, ascending 30-45° above horizontal, 10-14 mm;
lower petal blades slightly elevated, ± exposing stamens, 4-5 mm, clefts 2-3 mm;
hairs centered, densest on inner lobe above base of cleft, also on margins, white.
8-20 mm, 2.2-4 times longer than wide, glabrous.
10-18 mm, 4.1-4.5 times longer than wide, puberulent.
echinate, appearing fuzzy to naked eye;
seed coat cells with margins straight, surfaces sparsely pustulate.
seed coat cells with surfaces bumpy or wavy.
= 16.
Delphinium hansenii
Delphinium uliginosum
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.)
Although some populations are large, Delphinium uliginosum is very local. Hybrids with D. hesperium subsp. pallescens have been seen.
Delphinium uliginosum is a very distinctive species, not likely to be confused with any other. The fan-shaped, slightly dissected leaves are apparently unique in the genus.
(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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