Kern County Larkspur

Delphinium purpusii is not likely to be confused with any other Delphinium in North America. Hybrids with Delphinium hansenii subsp. kernense are known to occur.

Stems (30-)50-80(-120) cm; base reddish or not, nearly glabrous. Leaves mostly on proximal 1/2 of stem; basal leaves 3-5 at anthesis; cauline leaves 4-12 at anthesis; petiole 3-17 cm. Leaf blade round, 1.5-6 × 2-10 cm, ± puberulent; ultimate lobes 0-5, width 5-30(-50) mm (basal), 5-20(-40) mm (cauline). Inflorescences (8-)12-20(-32)-flowered, ± cylindric; pedicel ± ascending, (0.5-)1-4(-5) cm, glandular-puberulent; bracteoles 1-6 mm from flowers, green to magenta, linear, 2-4 mm, glandular-puberulent. Flowers: sepals magenta to rose, nearly glabrous, lateral sepals reflexed, 10-16 × 3-7 mm, spurs straight, 30-45° above horizontal, (10-)14-19 mm; lower petal blades nearly coplanar with claws, exposing stamens, 3-4 mm, clefts 0.5-1.5 mm; hairs sparse, scattered, white. Fruits (11-)18-29 mm, 4-4.5 times longer than wide, glabrous. Seeds: seed coats with small wavy ridges, cells brick-shaped, cell margins undulate, surfaces smooth. 2 n = 16.

Calif.

Flowering spring.

Talus, cliffs, on and near large boulders; of conservation concern; 300-1300m.