SCARLET LARKSPUR (Delphinium cardinale, Hook). The 

 principal characteristic of the Larkspur flower is the backward 

 prolongation of the upper sepal into a prominent spur. Both 

 petals and sepals are colored alike. 



The Scarlet Larkspur is one of the most striking of wild 

 flowers and its magnificent racemes 1 to 2 feet long of 

 blazing red or orange-red blossoms on stems that frequently 

 reach a height of six feet and sometimes more, are unmis- 

 takable among the shrubs and brush of the arid spaces where it 

 delights to grow. It may be found in flower from May to Aug- 

 ust throughout Southern California, in the foothills up to about 

 3,000 feet, and along sandy washes. Blooming as it does 

 considerably after the rains are over, the stems then are us- 

 ually leafless, the foliage having withered up. Early in the sea- 

 son, the 5 to 7 narrow-fingered leaves are beautiful in themselves. 



There is another red-flowered species (D. nudicaule, T. & G.) 

 which is found in the Coast Ranges from the Santa Lucia 

 Mountains north to Oregon. It is much less showy, the 

 slender stems not more than two feet high, and the loose racemes 

 few (2 to 12) flowered. Mr. Chesnut states that the root 

 was reputed among some Indians to have narcotic properties 

 useful to one, when gambling, to put an opponent to sleep! 

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