Compilation
Delphinium parishii

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Name

Identification
Isotype of Delphinium collinum Ewan [family RANUNCULACEAE ] Delphinium subglobosum Wiggins [family RANUNCULACEAE ] (stored under name); Delphinium parishii (Wiggins) F.H.Lewis & Epling [family RANUNCULACEAE ]
Related name
  • Delphinium parishii
  • Delphinium cuyamacae
  • Delphinium collinum
  • Delphinium subglobosum
Common name
  • Mohave larkspur, Flora of North America Vol. 3
  • Apache larkspur, Flora of North America Vol. 3
  • Clary's larkspur, Flora of North America Vol. 3
  • Unexpected larkspur, Flora of North America Vol. 3
  • Parish's larkspur, Flora of North America Vol. 3
  • Mount Pinos larkspur, Flora of North America Vol. 3
  • Pale-flowered Parish's larkspur, Flora of North America Vol. 3

Flora

Entry for Delphinium inopinum (Jepson) H. F. Lewis & Epling [family RANUNCULACEAE]
Herbarium
Flora of North America (FNA)
Collection
Flora of North America
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of North America, Vol 3,
Names
Delphinium inopinum (Jepson) H. F. Lewis & Epling [family RANUNCULACEAE], Brittonia, 8: 11. 1954
Delphinium parishii A. Gray var. inopinum Jepson [family RANUNCULACEAE], Fl. Calif., 1: 526. 1914
Information
Stems 70-110(-150) cm; base reddish or not, glabrous, often glaucous. Leaves mostly on proximal 1/3 of stem, on proximal 1/5 at anthesis; basal leaves 0-4 at anthesis; cauline leaves 6-12 at anthesis; petiole 1-18 cm. Leaf blade ± pentagonal, 1-5 × 1.5-7 cm, glabrous; ultimate lobes 3-9, width 5-28 mm (basal), 3-18 mm (cauline). Inflorescences 20-35(-51)-flowered, usually dense; pedicel 0.3-1.5(-2.5) cm, glabrous; bracteoles 2-4 mm from flowers, green, linear, 1-2(-4) mm, nearly glabrous. Flowers: sepals white to light blue, glabrous, lateral sepals spreading to forward pointing, 8-12 × 3-5 mm, spurs straight to gently upcurved, ascending 30-60° above horizontal, 9-12 mm; lower petal blades slightly elevated, ± exposing stamens, 3-5 mm, clefts 1-2 mm; hairs centered, densest near base of cleft, white. Fruits 12-20 mm, 2.6-4 times longer than wide, glabrous. Seeds wing-margined; seed coat cells surfaces smooth.
Phenology
Flowering summer
Altitude range
2200-2800 m
Distribution
USA Calif.
Discussion
Delphinium inopinum is apparently endemic to a white metamorphic rock substrate in the Piute Mountains and southern Sierra Nevada. It is not known to hybridize with any other species, although D. patens subsp. montanum has been collected (when both were flowering) within 1 km of D. inopinum and probably occurs much closer. Delphinium inopinum is often confused with D. parishii subsp. pallidum and superficially resembles some white-flowered individuals of D. hansenii, as well as D. gypsophilum and D. hesperium subsp. pallescens. The massive roots with prominent buds readily distinguish D. inopinum from all of these. In addition, the pubescence found on D. hansenii will separate it from the glabrous D. inopinum. Leaves are rarely seen at anthesis near the base of the stem in D. hesperium subsp. pallescens; they are present in D. inopinum.

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