zigzag larkspur

Delphinium patens

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

This species has subspecies or variants that don't seem worth distinguishing.

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• 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

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: 16 (8 are research grade)

Locations:

• Henry Coe SP: 4
• Joseph D. Grant CP: 2
• Stevens Creek CP: 2
• Sunol Wilderness RP: 2
• Fort Ord NM
• Monte Bello OSP
• Pinnacles NP
• Russian Ridge OSP
• Sanborn CP
• Sierra Azul OSP

Months:

• Mar.: 3
• Apr.: 10
• May: 2
• Jun.: 1

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

Bay Area species: iNaturalist – Calflora