Delphinium xantholeucum |
Delphinium recurvatum |
|
---|---|---|
yellow-white larkspur |
Byron larkspur, recurved larkspur, valley larkspur |
|
Stems | 40-60(-100) cm; base often reddish, glabrous, ± glaucous. |
(18-)30-50(-85) cm; base reddish, glabrous. |
Leaves | blade round, 2-6 × 4-10 cm, nearly glabrous; ultimate lobes 3-15, width 3-8 mm (basal), 1-5 mm (cauline). |
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). |
Inflorescences | 10-20(-60)-flowered, narrowly pyramidal; pedicel spreading, yellowish, 1.5-3 cm, ± glandular-puberulent; bracteoles 6-12 mm from flowers, green to light brown, linear to lanceolate, 4-7 mm, nearly glabrous. |
(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. |
Flowers | sepals yellow, glabrous, lateral sepals reflexed, 9-12 × 3-5 mm, spurs straight, ascending ca. 45° above horizontal, 11-15 mm; lower petal blades elevated, exposing stamens, 3-5 mm, clefts 1-2 mm; hairs centered mostly on inner lobes near base of cleft, white. |
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. |
Fruits | 15-22 mm, 3-4 times longer than wide, glabrous to glandular-puberulent. |
8-21 mm, 2.2-3 times longer than wide, puberulent. |
Seeds | seed coat cells narrow, short, cell margins straight, surfaces smooth. |
seed coat cells brick-shaped, cell margins undulate, surfaces roughened. |
2n | = 16. |
= 16. |
Delphinium xantholeucum |
Delphinium recurvatum |
|
Phenology | Flowering spring. | Flowering spring. |
Habitat | Slopes in open yellow pine forests, grasslands, sage scrub | Grassland, Atriplex scrub |
Elevation | 150-600 m (500-2000 ft) | 30-600 m (100-2000 ft) |
Distribution |
WA
|
CA
|
Discussion | Of conservation concern. Delphinium xantholeucum is very local; much of the habitat of this species has been converted to orchards. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
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. Subscaposa |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | D. hesperium var. recurvatum | |
Name authority | Piper: Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 11: 280. (1906) | Greene: Pittonia 1: 285. (1889) |
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