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| Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup) |
| Flowers — color: blue, size: 3/4", type: 5 petals |
This Larkspur has an incredible floral display. Blue petal-like sepals open and form a five-pointed star. Forwards comes two violet petals with white tips pointing upwards. Two larger violet petals touch and form a dome over the sexual bits. Backside, a long tubular violet spur extends from the top sepal. This spur holds two small spurs from petals that hold nectar. The pollinator must stick their heads into the flower so their tongues can reach the treasure.
Up to a dozen flowers may form on each stem and bloom together.
Habit:
The main stem rises two to three feet and many specimens have rising side branches that also hold blooms. Leaves are more common near the base of the stem. A short petiole [side stem] holds several palmate leaves. Each leaf is very narrow and splits into several lobes.
Parry's Larkspur, aka San Bernardino Larkspur, is a perennial with a single main stem. Dune Larkspur, aka Blochman's Larkspur, is a perennial with a branching stem. The presence of so much branching makes me lean towards Dune Larkspur, and I must study this case more. The California Native Plant Society considers this a rare plant, with a range from Lompoc to Point Sal. The subspecies name honors Ida Mae Twitchell Blochman, Santa Maria teacher and botanist, who collected native plants extensively. Her family sold their property to an oil company and moved to Oakland, never to return.
Larkspurs are harmful to humans and livestock. Native Americans have used the flowers to make blue dye. Sunny spots.
Observations:
I found these on a blooming hillside south of Burton Mesa Rd.