Delphinium variegatum
Fl. N. Amer. 1: 32. 183.
not D. variegatum Baillon 1883.
Stems (10-)20-50(-80) cm; base reddish or not, not longitudinally ridged, long-pubescent. Leaves mostly on proximal 1/3 of stem; basal leaves 0-6 at anthesis; cauline leaves 1-6 at anthesis; petiole 0.5-9 cm, petioles of proximal leaves long-pubescent. Leaf blade round to pentagonal, 1-4.5 × 2-6 cm, pubescent; ultimate lobes 3-15, width 3-8 mm (basal), 2-5 mm (cauline). Inflorescences (4-)6-17(-20)-flowered, open; pedicel 0.5-3(-7) cm, usually puberulent; bracteoles 2-7(-23) mm from flowers, green, linear-lanceolate, 3-8 mm, puberulent. Flowers: sepals usually deep royal blue, sometimes bright blue to light blue or white, ± finely pubescent, lateral sepals spreading, 10-18(-25) × 6-10 mm, spurs straight, ascending ca. 30° above horizontal, 10-19 mm; lower petal blades slightly elevated, ± exposing stamens, 4-11 mm, clefts 0.5-3.5 mm; hairs sparse, more on inner lobes than outer lobe or centered, scattered on margins, white or yellow. Fruits 9-19 mm, 2.2-3.8 times longer than wide, ± puberulent. Seeds not echinate, appearing ± smooth to naked eye; seed coat cells with margins ± undulate, surfaces roughened.
Discussion
Subspecies 3 (3 in the flora).
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
Key
| 1 | Long hairs dense on base of stem; sepals usually deep royal blue; mainland. | Delphinium variegatum subsp. variegatum |
| 1 | Long hairs sparse on proximal portion of stems; sepals white to bright blue; islands. | > 2 |
| 2 | Sepals bright blue to light blue. | Delphinium variegatum subsp. thornei |
| 2 | Sepals white to light blue. | Delphinium variegatum subsp. kinkiense |