Delphinium uliginosum
Delphinium gypsophilum
swamp larkspur
gypsum-loving larkspur, Pinoche Creek larkspur
10-30(-70) cm;
base reddish or not, nearly glabrous.
(30-)60-100(-150) cm;
base usually reddish, glabrous, glaucous.
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.
blade round to pentagonal, 1.5-6 × 2-12 cm, nearly glabrous; ultimate lobes 3-12, width 3-24 mm (basal), 1-8 mm (cauline).
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.
15-30(-64)-flowered, cylindric;
pedicel spreading, (0.5-)1.5-3.5 cm, glabrous;
bracteoles 2-6 mm from flowers, green, linear, 2-5 mm, glabrous.
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.
sepals rarely reflexed, white to pink, nearly glabrous, lateral sepals spreading, 7-19 × 3-10 mm, spurs straight to upcurved, ascending 30-45° above horizontal, 7-15 mm;
lower petal blades elevated, exposing stamens, 3-8 mm, clefts 1-4 mm;
hairs centered near base of cleft, ± evenly distributed, white.
10-18 mm, 4.1-4.5 times longer than wide, puberulent.
9-18 mm, 2.5-3.2 times longer than wide, puberulent.
seed coat cells with surfaces bumpy or wavy.
seed coat cells brick-shaped, cell margins undulate, surfaces roughened.
= 16.
Delphinium uliginosum
Delphinium gypsophilum
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.)
Subspecies 2 (2 in the flora).
Delphinium gypsophilum is sometimes confused with D. hesperium subsp. pallescens, D. recurvatum, and the white-flowered phases of D. hansenii subsp. kernense. The echinate seeds and long-haired petioles of D. hansenii immediately distinguish it from D. gypsophilum, which has neither.
Delphinium gypsophilum is related, and similar in many respects, to D. recurvatum. The two may be distinguished morphologically by their sepals. Delphinium recurvatum has reflexed, blue sepals; those of D. gypsophilum are spreading and white, although they may change to light blue when dry. Plants of D. recurvatum normally are less than 60 cm; those of D. gypsophilum are usually more than 60 cm. Ecologically, D. recurvatum occupies level ground among shrubs, typically in alkaline valley bottoms; D. gypsophilum is found on well-drained hillsides among grasses and in chaparral and oak woodland.
From Delphinium hesperium subsp. pallescens, specimens of D. gypsophilum may be separated by their much more finely dissected leaves, with less surface area, stem base usually reddish, stems frequently glaucous proximally, undulate margins of seed coat cells, and absence of striations in stem base of dried specimens. In contrast, D. hesperium subsp. pallescens has leaves less dissected, with greater surface area, stem base rarely reddish, stem not glaucous proximally, seed coat cells with straight margins, and striations present on the proximal stem of dried specimens.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Lower petals 5–8 mm; lateral sepals 10 mm or more; pedicel usually more than 1 cm apart. | subsp. gypsophilum |
1. Lower petals 3–5 mm; lateral sepals 10 mm or less; pedicel usually less than 1 cm apart. | subsp. parviflorum |
CA
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
