royal larkspur

Delphinium variegatum

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

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• 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

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: 4 (all are research grade)

Locations:

• Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve: 4

Months:

• Apr.: 4

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

Bay Area species: iNaturalist – Calflora