Delphinium subsect. Wislizenana

M. J. Warnock

Madroño 31: 243. 1984.

Treatment appears in FNA Volume 3.

Roots 3-8-branched, (5-)15-24(-80) cm, twisted fibrous, dry to fleshy, thin threadlike segments apparent nearly entire length; buds sometimes more than 3 mm, usually absent during dormant season. Stems 1(-4) per root, usually unbranched, elongation delayed 2-10 weeks after leaf initiation; base usually not narrowed, firmly attached to root; proximal internodes much shorter than those of midstem. Leaves basal and cauline, largest near base of stem, others usually abruptly smaller on distal portion of stem; basal petioles spreading, cauline petioles ascending; basal leaves more rounded and with fewer, wider lobes than cauline leaves. Inflorescences usually 2-9 flowers per 5 cm, open to dense, cylindric-narrow-pyramidal, spurs rarely intersecting rachis; pedicel spreading to ascending, often more than 2 cm, rachis to midpedicel angle more than 30°; bracts usually smaller and fewer lobed than leaves. Fruits erect. Seeds rectangular to crescent-shaped, 2-3.5 × 1.3-2.5 mm, not ringed on proximal end, wing-margined or not; seed coats ± covered with small irregular wavy ridges, cells short (less than 3 times longer than wide), cell margins usually straight.

Distribution

North America, Mexico.

Discussion

Species 12 (5 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Sepals red. Delphinium cardinale
1 Sepals bluish or purplish, rarely white, extremely rarely pink, not red. > 2
2 Flowers ± bright blue, sepals with lighter median line adaxially; leaf blade light green, veins obscure; leaf lobe apex gradually tapering to point. > 3
2 Flowers purple to blue (if bright blue, then lower stems glabrous), sepal color ± uniform; leaf blade dark green, at least adaxially, veins prominent; leaf lobe apex abruptly tapered, usually mucronate. > 4
3 Leaf blade sparsely puberulent; stems more than (40–)70 cm. Delphinium stachydeum
3 Leaf blade densely puberulent; stems less than 60(–80) cm. Delphinium geyeri
4 Midstems and leaf blades pubescent; sepals dark blue to purple. Delphinium geraniifolium
4 Midstems and leaf blades glabrous to subglabrous; sepals bright dark blue. Delphinium scopulorum