Sutherland's larkspur

Stems (15-)30-70 cm; base often reddish, glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; basal leaves 0-2 at anthesis; cauline leaves 3-7 at anthesis; petiole 0.4-14 cm. Leaf blade round, 1.5-10 × 3-18 cm, nearly glabrous; ultimate lobes 5-21, 5 or more extending more than 3/5 distance to petiole, width 3-9(-15) mm (basal), 0.5-6(-10) mm (cauline), widest at middle or in proximal 1/2. Inflorescences (2-)11-26(-37)-flowered, at least 2 times longer than wide; pedicel 1-3 cm, puberulent; bracteoles 2-7 mm from flowers, green to blue, linear-lanceolate, 3-5 mm, puberulent. Flowers: sepals dark blue, retaining color upon drying, puberulent, lateral sepals spreading, 14-20 × 5-10 mm, spurs gently decurved, ascending 0-20° above horizontal, 14-18 mm; lower petal blades slightly elevated, ± covering stamens, white, yellowish, or tan, 8-12 mm, clefts 2-4 mm; hairs short, sparse, mostly below junction of blade and claw, slightly offset to inner lobes, white. Fruits (13-)18-25 mm, 4.5-5.2 times longer than wide, puberulent. Seeds winged on 1 margin; seed coat cell surfaces roughened. 2 n = 16.

Flowering spring. Dry meadows, rock outcrops, open conifer woods; 400-800 m; B.C.; Idaho, Mont., Wash.