coastal larkspur

Delphinium decorum

Member of larkspurs (genus Delphinium)
buttercup family (family Ranunculaceae)
dicots (class Magnoliopsida)
purple in flowering plants

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• 2–20 flowers
• stem 8–35 cm, ± erect, [proximally] hairy (unlike zigzag larkspur (Delphinium patens))
• pedicels 10–63 mm, 10–25 mm apart
• if ≥ 6 flowers, oldest open-flowered pedicels generally > 25 mm and > 2 × youngest
• sepals dark blue-purple, puberulent abaxially (e.g. on spur), generally not reflexed (unlike zigzag larkspur (Delphinium patens))
• leaf generally basal, ± glabrous adaxially, generally ± puberulent abaxially and on margins
• generally 5 lobes > 50% to petiole; lobes occasionally > 6 mm wide
• lower petal blades 6–11 mm (longer than zigzag larkspur (Delphinium patens))
• scattered around bay area

Toxicity of delphinium, larkspur, rocket larkspur (Delphinium spp.):
4 – Ingestion of these plants, especially in large amounts, is expected to cause serious effects to the heart, liver, kidneys or brain. If ingested in any amount, call the poison center immediately.

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Chris’s observations: none

Taxon info: iNaturalist – Calflora – CalPhotos – Jepson eFlora – FNA

Bay Area species: iNaturalist – Calflora