Delphinium recurvatum |
Delphinium exaltatum |
|
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Byron larkspur, recurved larkspur, valley larkspur |
tall larkspur |
|
Stems | (18-)30-50(-85) cm; base reddish, glabrous. |
70-200 cm; base reddish, nearly glabrous. |
Leaves | blade round to pentagonal, 1-4 × 1.5-6 cm, nearly glabrous; ultimate lobes 3-11, width 3-15 mm (basal), 1-10 mm (cauline). |
blade pentagonal, 2-7 × 3-9 cm, puberulent; ultimate lobes 3-7, width 5-25 mm; midcauline leaf lobes less than 3 times longer than wide. |
Inflorescences | (8-)10-25(-47)-flowered, narrowly pyramidal; pedicel ± spreading, (0.5-)1.5-4(-6) cm, nearly glabrous; bracteoles 3-8(-18) mm from flowers, green, sometimes margins white, lanceolate to linear, 3-5(-8) mm, nearly glabrous. |
8-30-flowered; pedicel 0.5-2 cm, puberulent; bracteoles 2-4 mm from flowers, green, linear, 2-4 mm, puberulent. |
Flowers | sepals light to sky blue (becoming bluer upon drying), puberulent, lateral sepals reflexed, 11-16 × 5-7(-9) mm, spurs straight to gently upcurved, ascending 0-30° above horizontal, 10-15(-18) mm; lower petal blades elevated, ± exposing stamens, 5-8 mm, clefts 0.5-2.5 mm; hairs mostly centered on inner lobes near base of cleft, white. |
sepals whitish to pale lavender or purple, puberulent, lateral sepals forward pointing, 9-11 × 4-6 mm, spurs straight, as much as 45° above or below horizontal, 9-12 mm; lower petal blades ± covering stamens, 3-5 mm, clefts 1-2 mm; hairs centered, mostly near base of cleft, white. |
Fruits | 8-21 mm, 2.2-3 times longer than wide, puberulent. |
7-12 mm, 2-2.5 times longer than wide, ± puberulent. |
Seeds | seed coat cells brick-shaped, cell margins undulate, surfaces roughened. |
± wing-margined; seed coat cells elongate, surfaces smooth. |
2n | = 16. |
|
Delphinium recurvatum |
Delphinium exaltatum |
|
Phenology | Flowering spring. | Flowering summer. |
Habitat | Grassland, Atriplex scrub | Rocky slopes in open deciduous woods and barrens, mainly on calcareous substrates, also shale and mafic and ultramafic rocks |
Elevation | 30-600 m (100-2000 ft) | 150-2000 m (500-6600 ft) |
Distribution |
CA
|
AL; KY; MD; MO; NC; OH; PA; TN; VA; WV
|
Discussion | Of conservation concern. Delphinium recurvatum has a very restricted distribution in the Central (especially San Joaquin) Valley. This species was probably much more common in the past; most of its habitat has been converted into irrigated croplands. Delphinium recurvatum grows in poorly drained, alkaline soils on valley floors. Hybrids are known between Delphinium recurvatum and D. gypsophilum, D. hesperium, D. parryi, and D. variegatum. Delphinium recurvatum is most likely to be confused with D. gypsophilum or D. hesperium subsp. pallescens. Distinguishing features are found in discussions of those taxa. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
|
Source | FNA vol. 3. | FNA vol. 3. |
Parent taxa | Ranunculaceae > Delphinium > sect. Diedropetala > subsect. Subscaposa | Ranunculaceae > Delphinium > sect. Diedropetala > subsect. Exaltata |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | D. hesperium var. recurvatum | |
Name authority | Greene: Pittonia 1: 285. (1889) | Aiton: Hort. Kew. 2: 244. (1789) |
Web links |