Delphinium californicum subsp. californicum

Common names: Coast larkspur
Endemic
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 3.

Stems puberulent most of length. Leaf-blades abaxially and marginally puberulent. Inflorescences puberulent. Flowers: sepals erect, lavender, densely puberulent, lateral sepals 7-11 mm, spurs 7-14 mm; upper petals with simple, nearly apical hairs. 2n = 16.


Phenology: Flowering late spring.
Habitat: Generally coastward slopes in dense coastal chaparral, often within sight of Pacific Ocean
Elevation: 0-1000 m

Discussion

Delphinium californicum subsp. californicum is locally common, but populations tend to be scattered and often are in areas subject to human encroachment. A general trend of increased density and length of pubescence, correlated with increased frequency and density of coastal fog, is apparent. Specimens called D. californicum forma longipilis Ewan are so named for their abundance of pubescence; they grow in areas of abundant fog. This subspecies has formed garden hybrids with D. cardinale.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"puberulent" is not a number.

Michael J. Warnock +
Torrey & A. Gray +
usually larger +
puberulent-glabrous +
not narrowed +
expanded +
straight +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
subopposite-subalternate +
1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br /> (1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br />) +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (?) +  and 0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (?) +
globose;cylindric +
elongate +
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br />) +
Coast larkspur +
0-1000 m +
sessile +  and pedicellate +
showy +  and inconspicuous +
cylindric +
glabrous +  and sparsely puberulent +
1.1 cm11 mm <br />0.011 m <br /> (1.6 cm16 mm <br />0.016 m <br />) +
sessile +  and aggregate +
curved-cylindric +
Generally coastward slopes in dense coastal chaparral, often within sight of Pacific Ocean +
light yellow;white +
(16-)40-90(-162)-flowered +
axillary +  and terminal +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (1.1 cm11 mm <br />0.011 m <br />) +
less ovate +  and elliptic +
0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br /> (1.1 cm11 mm <br />0.011 m <br />) +
3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (9 cm90 mm <br />0.09 m <br />) +
pentagonal +  and round +
whorled +, opposite +  and alternate +
smaller +, slightly below middle slightly below middle internodes +  and largest +
lacerate;crenate +
clawed +, 2-lobed +, ovate +  and plane +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br />) +
palmate +  and pinnate +
incised;toothed;incised;toothed;entire +
reduced +
2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br /> (6.5 cm65 mm <br />0.065 m <br />) +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
distinct +
conspicuous +
spurred +, funnel--shaped +, cup-shaped +  and plane +
reduced +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (7 cm70 mm <br />0.07 m <br />) +
Flowering late spring. +
Fl. N. Amer. +
2-100-flowered +
5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br /> (40 cm400 mm <br />0.4 m <br />) +
twisted +  and 4-15-branched +
tuberlike +
10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br /> (80 cm800 mm <br />0.8 m <br />) +
dark-brown +  and black +
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (0.35 cm3.5 mm <br />0.0035 m <br />) +
not ringed +
rectangular +  and crescent-shaped +
0.12 cm1.2 mm <br />0.0012 m <br /> (0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br />) +
lavender;greenish white +
not persistent +
distinct +
3 +  and 6 +
not +  and veined +
1.1 cm11 mm <br />0.011 m <br /> (1.4 cm14 mm <br />0.014 m <br />) +
straight +
downcurved +  and ascending +
0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br /> (1.4 cm14 mm <br />0.014 m <br />) +
160 cm1,600 mm <br />1.6 m <br /> (230 cm2,300 mm <br />2.3 m <br />) +
3 +  and 8 +
100 cm1,000 mm <br />1 m <br /> (160 cm1,600 mm <br />1.6 m <br />) +
persistent +
Delphinium californicum subsp. californicum +
Delphinium californicum +
subspecies +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (6 cm60 mm <br />0.06 m <br />) +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (2.4 cm24 mm <br />0.024 m <br />) +
herbaceous +  and woody +