Stems (11-) 40-80 (-120) cm; base usually reddish, longitudinally ridged, puberulent. Leaves mostly cauline; basal leaves 0-3 at anthesis; cauline leaves 3-8 at anthesis; petiole 0.5-7 cm, petioles of proximal leaves glabrous to puberulent. Leaf-blade round to pentagonal, 1-4 × 2-6 cm, usually puberulent, especially abaxially; ultimate lobes 3-14, width 3-8 mm (basal), 2-5 mm (cauline). Inflorescences (5-) 15-30 (-100) -flowered, moderately open; pedicel (0.5-) 1-2.5 (-7.5) cm, puberulent; bracteoles 2-6 (-12) mm from flowers, green to blue, margins often white, linear-lanceolate, 3-7 (-12) mm, puberulent. Flowers: sepals dark blue to white, puberulent, lateral sepals spreading, 7-13 (-16) × 3-10 mm, spurs straight to upcurved, ascending 30-45° above horizontal, 9-18 mm; lower petal blades slightly elevated, ± exposing stamens, 3-8 mm, clefts 1-5 mm; hairs centered, denser on inner lobes near base of cleft, white. Fruits 8-18 mm, 2.2-3 (-4.2) times longer than wide, sparse puberulent. Seeds not echinate, appearing ± smooth to naked eye; seed-coat cells with margins straight, surfaces smooth or roughened.

Discussion

Subspecies 3 (3 in the flora).

Delphinium hesperium is thought to be poisonous to cattle (D. E. Moerman 1986, no subspecies specified). It is often confused with D. hansenii. See discussion under that species for distinguishing features.

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Lateral sepals 4(–5) mm wide or less; inflorescence dense (individual flowers often touching in pressed specimens). Delphinium hesperium subsp. cuyamacae
1 Lateral sepals more than 4 mm wide; inflorescence open (individual flowers seldom touching in pressed specimens). > 2
2 Sepals dark blue-purple. Delphinium hesperium subsp. hesperium
2 Sepals white to pinkish, rarely light blue. Delphinium hesperium subsp. pallescens

"thin" is not a number.

... more about "Delphinium hesperium"
Michael J. Warnock +
A. Gray +
usually larger +
puberulent +
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 +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br />) +
green +  and blue +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br />) +
minute +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (?) +  and 0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (?) +
globose;cylindric +
brick--shaped +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
less smooth;naked +
sessile +  and pedicellate +
showy +  and inconspicuous +
2.2-3(-4.2) +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (1.8 cm18 mm <br />0.018 m <br />) +
sessile +  and aggregate +
curved-cylindric +
open +  and (5-)15-30(-100)-flowered +
axillary +  and terminal +
1.3 cm13 mm <br />0.013 m <br /> (1.6 cm16 mm <br />0.016 m <br />) +
0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br /> (1.3 cm13 mm <br />0.013 m <br />) +
less ovate +  and elliptic +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (1.8 cm18 mm <br />0.018 m <br />) +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
round +  and pentagonal +
whorled +, opposite +  and alternate +
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 +
0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br /> (1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br />) +
linear-lanceolate +
smaller +
2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br /> (7.5 cm75 mm <br />0.075 m <br />) +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
distinct +
conspicuous +
spurred +, funnel--shaped +, cup-shaped +  and plane +
reduced +
glabrous;puberulent +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (7 cm70 mm <br />0.07 m <br />) +
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 +
dark blue;white +
not persistent +
distinct +
3 +  and 6 +
not +  and veined +
straight +
ascending +  and upcurved +
0.9 cm9 mm <br />0.009 m <br /> (1.8 cm18 mm <br />0.018 m <br />) +
80 cm800 mm <br />0.8 m <br /> (120 cm1,200 mm <br />1.2 m <br />) +
40 cm400 mm <br />0.4 m <br /> (80 cm800 mm <br />0.8 m <br />) +
persistent +
roughened;smooth +
Delphinium hesperium +
Delphinium subsect. Echinata +
species +
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 +