Delphinium Geraniifolium, Clark Valley Larkspur

Delphinium geraniifolium occurs over a relatively narrow area from central Arizona in the vicinity of Flagstaff, into southwest New Mexico. Stems, often purplish towards the base, have a covering of short, soft hairs, more dense towards the top. Leaves are concentrated below the middle of the stem, and at the base, and are attached by relatively long stalks, up to 5 inches. The prominently-veined leaves are divided into narrow lobes, themselves irregularly lobed or toothed. Leaves are sparsely hairy, more so on the undersurfaces.

The inflorescence is a dense, elongated cluster, of up to 90 flowers, attached by spreading to ascending pedicels around half an inch long, subtended by narrow, linear bracteoles. Petals and sepals are pinkish-purple to dark blue, and the sepals are sparsely short-hairy. Petal spurs are ascending, held at angles between 20 and 70 degrees from the pedicel. The tip of the spur is slightly downturned. The two lower petals have a sparse covering of straggly white hairs, and are positioned above the dark-colored anthers.