larkspurs

• sepals forward-pointing, scarlet to orange-red (dull yellow), lateral sepals 8–16 mm, spur 12–34 mm
• petals ± glabrous to naked eye
• stem 15–50 cm (–125), generally glabrous
• common in bay area

See also california fuchsia (Epilobium canum), which does not have a spur extending perpendicular to the pedicel and has much longer filaments. There is also a scarlet larkspur (Delphinium cardinale), but it isn’t found in the bay area.

• generally > 50 flowers
• generally ≥ 2 stems, 100–160 cm (60–220), generally puberulent
• sepals forward-pointing, ± lavender or ± green-white depending on subspecies [maybe]
• leaf lobes 3–15, 5–60 mm wide, tips ± sharply cut
• common in bay area

• number of flowers and pedicel length indeterminate
• stem 10–90 cm, ± [proximally] glabrous
• generally < 6 flowers on main axis? [how many axes are there?]; if more, oldest open-flowered pedicels generally > 25 mm and > 2 × youngest
• sepals purple, perhaps shading toward blue, reflexed, generally glabrous
• lower petal blades 4–6 mm
• hairier on inner lobe than outer lobe
• leaf generally on lower ⅓ of stem, ± glabrous; basal, lower cauline divided > 80% to petiole
• 3–5 leaf lobes, generally < 15 mm wide but broader than san bernardino larkspur (Delphinium parryi)
• common in bay area

• 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

• stem generally < 50 cm, base hairy, base not longitudinally ridged (unlike foothill larkspur (Delphinium hesperium))
• flowers on main axis generally < 10
• pedicels ± ascending, 6–74 mm, 10–25 mm apart, generally puberulent
• if ≤ 6 flowers on main axis, oldest open-flowered pedicel generally < 25 mm or < 2 × youngest
• proximal petiole hairs > 0.5 mm, straight, spreading, white, and some not
• flower spur 10–19 mm, straight or down-curved < 3 mm at tip
• sepals generally dark royal-blue (white or lavendar)
• lateral sepals 10–25 mm
• lower petals have sparse marginal hairs [source]
• leaf generally on proximal ⅓ of stem; lobes 3–15, generally overlapping
• scattered around bay area

• stem 40–80 cm (10–120), base generally ridged (unlike royal larkspur (Delphinium variegatum))
• flowers 5–100 [CalPhotos shows them all with similar pedicel lengths, not longer at the bottom]
• proximal petiole hairs are unknowable
• blades of lower petals hairier adaxially (inner lobe) than abaxially (outer lobe)
• sepals spreading, not reflexed, dark blue-purple or pale depending on subspecies
• sepals shorter than many other larkspurs
• pedicels ascending at < 45° angle [from vertical? angle at tip?], puberulent
• leaf adaxially ± glabrous, abaxially puberulent, prominently veined
• 3–14 narrow leaf lobes, 2–8 mm wide [source]
• abaxial veins prominent [source]
• common in bay area