Roots 3-8 (-12) -branched at least 1 cm from stem attachment, (4-) 10-30 (-40) cm, fibrous, twisted, dry, thin threadlike segments apparent nearly entire length; buds minute. Stems 1 (-3) per root, unbranched, elongation delayed 4-10 weeks after leaf initiation; base often narrowed, firmly attached to root; proximal internodes much shorter than those of midstem. Leaves basal and cauline, largest near base of stem, others often abruptly smaller on distal stem; basal petioles spreading, cauline petioles ascending; basal leaves more rounded and with fewer, wider lobes than cauline leaves. Inflorescences usually 4-8 flowers per 5 cm, ± open, cylindric to narrowly pyramidal, seldom less than 4 times longer than wide, spurs rarely intersecting rachis; pedicel spreading to ascending, usually less than 2 cm, rachis to midpedicel angle more than 30°; bracts markedly smaller, fewer lobed than leaves. Fruits erect. Seeds rectangular to crescent-shaped, 1.3-3.3 × 1.1-2.3 mm, not ringed on proximal end, ± wing-margined; seed-coats usually lacking wavy ridges (present only in D. purpusii), cells brick-shaped (less than 3 times longer than wide), cell margins undulate or straight.

Distribution

North America, possibly others in Asia

Discussion

Species 10+ (10 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Yellowish gland-based hairs present (at least apically) on pedicel; sepals reflexed. > 2
1 Yellowish gland-based hairs usually absent from pedicel; sepals spreading or reflexed. > 4
2 Sepals light blue to lavender. Delphinium lineapetalum
2 Sepals rose to pinkish or yellow > 3
3 Sepals magenta to rose. Delphinium purpusii
3 Sepals yellow. Delphinium xantholeucum
4 Cells of seed coat with undulate margins visible at 10×; mature fruits usually 3 or fewer times longer than wide. > 5
4 Cells of seed coat with smooth margins visible at 10× (roughened in D.parryi); mature fruits usually more than 3 times longer than wide. > 7
5 Sepals rarely reflexed; stems more than (50-)60 cm. Delphinium gypsophilum
5 Sepals (especially laterals) usually reflexed; stems less than 60(-100) cm. > 6
6 Lower petals white (contrasted with blue sepals). Delphinium recurvatum
6 Lower petals blue or white to pink (same color as sepals). Delphinium parishii
7 Sepals strongly reflexed. Delphinium lineapetalum
7 Sepals spreading or slightly reflexed, not strongly reflexed. > 8
8 Green leaves usually absent on proximal 1/5 of stem at anthesis; if present, then proximal portion of stem and/or petioles covered with short, arched hairs. > 9
8 Green leaves usually present on proximal 1/5 of stem at anthesis; proximal portion of stem and petioles glabrous to nearly glabrous (straight hairs). > 10
9 Lobes of proximal leaves less than 5 mm wide, or plants from less than 10km inland or less than 400m elevation. Delphinium parryi
9 Lobes of proximal leaves 5 mm or more wide, and plants from more than 10km inland and greater than 400m elevation. > 8
10 Leaves almost entirely on proximal 1/5 of stem at anthesis. Delphinium scaposum
10 Leaves primarily cauline at anthesis. > 11
11 Lobes of proximal leaves less than 4 mm wide; lateral sepals spreading to reflexed. Delphinium andersonii
11 Lobes of proximal leaves at least 4 mm wide; lateral sepals spreading. Delphinium umbraculorum

"/" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property."entire" is not a number."thin" is not a number.

Michael J. Warnock +
usually larger +
narrowed +
expanded +
straight +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
smaller +
subopposite-subalternate +
minute +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (?) +  and 0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (?) +
globose;cylindric +
brick--shaped +
North America +  and possibly others in Asia +
showy +  and inconspicuous +
cylindric +  and narrowly pyramidal +
sessile +  and aggregate +
curved-cylindric +
axillary +  and terminal +
less ovate +  and elliptic +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (1.8 cm18 mm <br />0.018 m <br />) +
round +  and pentagonal or reniform +
whorled +, opposite +  and alternate +
cauline +  and basal +
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 +
incised;toothed;incised;toothed;entire +
smaller +
spreading +  and ascending +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
distinct +
conspicuous +
spurred +, funnel--shaped +, cup-shaped +  and plane +
reduced +
Bull. Torrey Bot. Club +
2-100-flowered +
5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br /> (40 cm400 mm <br />0.4 m <br />) +
twisted +  and 3-8(-12)-branched +
30 cm300 mm <br />0.3 m <br /> (40 cm400 mm <br />0.4 m <br />) +
tuberlike +
10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br /> (30 cm300 mm <br />0.3 m <br />) +
wing-margined +
dark-brown +  and black +
0.13 cm1.3 mm <br />0.0013 m <br /> (0.33 cm3.3 mm <br />0.0033 m <br />) +
not ringed +
rectangular +  and crescent-shaped +
0.11 cm1.1 mm <br />0.0011 m <br /> (0.23 cm2.3 mm <br />0.0023 m <br />) +
thread-like +
yellow;red;yellow;red;white;purple;blue +
not persistent +
distinct +
3 +  and 6 +
not +  and veined +
persistent +
Delphinium subsect. Subscaposa +
Delphinium sect. Diedropetala +
subsection +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (2.4 cm24 mm <br />0.024 m <br />) +
herbaceous +  and woody +