Rockslide Larkspur

Appearance

General: Sturdy perennial from a thick, fibrous, woody root, the 1-several stems stout, simple, 2-3 dm. tall.
Leaves: Leaves numerous, fleshy, evenly distributed below the inflorescence, but the petioles of the lower and basal leaves proportionately longer, forming a rounded clump; leaf blades 3-8 cm. broad, divided nearly to the base into 3 primary lobes, the lateral lobes again divided into 2-3 parts, the ultimate segments linear to narrowly oblong, entire.
Flowers: Inflorescence loose and broad, the racemes compound, often half the height of the plant, the lower flowers or racemes in leaf axils; pedicels long, stout, spreading; sepals 5, deep purplish-blue, the lower pair 12-16 mm. long, the lateral pair oblanceolate, pointed, the spur 12-17 mm. long, exceeding the blade of the upper sepal; petals 4, small, blue; stamens numerous; pistils 3.
Fruits: Follicles spreading, 11-14 mm. long..

Naming

Delphinium caprorum

Distribution

In the Olympic and Cascades mountains of Washington; British Columbia south to Oregon.

Habitat

Alpine and subalpine ridges and talus slopes, sometimes found at lower elevations.