Delphinium variegatum subsp. variegatum

Common names: Royal larkspur
EndemicIllustrated
Synonyms: Delphinium emiliae Greene Delphinium variegatum subsp. apiculatum Delphinium variegatum var. apiculatum (Greene) Greene
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 3.

Stem: base densely long-pubescent. Inflorescences usually with fewer than 10 flowers per branch. Flowers: sepals deep royal blue, rarely white or lavender, lateral sepals 10-25 mm; lower petal blades 4-11 mm. 2n = 16, 32.


Phenology: Flowering spring.
Habitat: Grassland, open oak woods
Elevation: 20-800 m

Discussion

Some populations of Delphinium variegatum subsp. variegatum may be found on serpentine; they are not well marked morphologically and are not recognized as distinct taxa. This taxon is one of the most commonly encountered plants in California, plants at times coloring foothills of the Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada. Hybrids with D. hansenii, D. hesperium, D. parryi, and D. recurvatum are known.

Delphinium variegatum has sometimes been confused with D. hansenii or with D. hesperium. Distinguishing features may be found in discussion under those taxa. Plants recognized under the name variegatum exhibit considerable morphologic variation. This variation could not be correlated, however, in such a way as to make defensible taxonomic segregates within D. variegatum subsp. variegatum. Further study may indicate some means of consistently recognizing some phases. For instance, the type specimen of D. variegatum forma superbum Ewan represents a phase with huge flowers. Plants with this feature may be found scattered almost throughout the range of D. variegatum subsp. variegatum (either as isolated plants or as populations made up largely of this morphotype); they are most common in San Francisco Bay area. The type specimen of D. subnudum represents plants with few cauline leaves, a feature that also appears apparently at random throughout the range of subsp. variegatum. Type specimens (isotypes) of D. emiliae appear to be plants introgressed with D. hesperium. The type specimen of D. apiculatum represents the most common and widespread phase of subsp. variegatum, with flowers intermediate in size between those of the type specimen of D. variegatum and those of D. variegatum forma superbum.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"thin" is not a number.

Michael J. Warnock +
Torrey & A. Gray +
usually larger +
not +  and reddish +
long-pubescent +
expanded +
Delphinium series +
straight +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
smaller +
subopposite-subalternate +
0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br /> (2.3 cm23 mm <br />0.023 m <br />) +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br />) +
linear-lanceolate +
minute +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (?) +  and 0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (?) +
globose;cylindric +
brick--shaped +
0.05 cm0.5 mm <br />5.0e-4 m <br /> (0.35 cm3.5 mm <br />0.0035 m <br />) +
Royal larkspur +
20-800 m +
less smooth;naked +
sessile +  and pedicellate +
showy +  and inconspicuous +
0.9 cm9 mm <br />0.009 m <br /> (1.9 cm19 mm <br />0.019 m <br />) +
sessile +  and aggregate +
curved-cylindric +
Grassland, open oak woods +
yellow;white +
open +  and (4-)6-17(-20)-flowered +
axillary +  and terminal +
1.8 cm18 mm <br />0.018 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (1.8 cm18 mm <br />0.018 m <br />) +
less ovate +  and elliptic +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (4.5 cm45 mm <br />0.045 m <br />) +
round +  and pentagonal +
whorled +, opposite +  and alternate +
cauline +  and basal +
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 +
undulate +
smaller +
3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (7 cm70 mm <br />0.07 m <br />) +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br />) +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (1.1 cm11 mm <br />0.011 m <br />) +
distinct +
conspicuous +
spurred +, funnel--shaped +, cup-shaped +  and plane +
reduced +
long-pubescent +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (9 cm90 mm <br />0.09 m <br />) +
Flowering spring. +
Fl. N. Amer. +  and not D. variegatum Baillon +
2-100-flowered +
5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br /> (40 cm400 mm <br />0.4 m <br />) +
3-9(-20)-branched +
8 cm80 mm <br />0.08 m <br /> (30 cm300 mm <br />0.3 m <br />) +
tuberlike +
3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (8 cm80 mm <br />0.08 m <br />) +
succulent +, dry +  and fleshy +
not echinate +
dark-brown +  and black +
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br />) +
not ringed +
rectangular +
0.08 cm0.8 mm <br />8.0e-4 m <br /> (0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br />) +
thread-like +
lavender;white;royal blue;deep +
not persistent +
distinct +
3 +  and 6 +
not +  and veined +
Endemic +  and Illustrated +
straight +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (1.9 cm19 mm <br />0.019 m <br />) +
50 cm500 mm <br />0.5 m <br /> (80 cm800 mm <br />0.8 m <br />) +
20 cm200 mm <br />0.2 m <br /> (50 cm500 mm <br />0.5 m <br />) +
persistent +
Delphinium emiliae +, Delphinium variegatum subsp. apiculatum +  and Delphinium variegatum var. apiculatum +
Delphinium variegatum subsp. variegatum +
Delphinium variegatum +
subspecies +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (2.4 cm24 mm <br />0.024 m <br />) +
herbaceous +  and woody +