Delphinium sparsiflorum Maxim.

Stem to 1.2 m tall, glabrous, few branched distally. Leaf blade 7--14 cm wide, base cordate; primary lobes separate for at least 90% of blade radius; central lobe rhombic, 3-cleft, distally few lobulate or dentate, apex acute; ultimate lobules lanceolate; proximal leaves withered. Compound raceme pyramidal, 30--40 cm, many flowered, glabrous; proximal bracts leaflike, distal ones linear or subulate. Pedicels 1.8--3.8 cm; bracteoles borne near middle of pedicel or distally, subulate, 2--3.5 mm. Sepals blue or pinkish, abaxially sparsely puberulent distally; spur narrowly conic or cylindric, 6--11 mm, base ca. 3 mm in diam.; other sepals 8.5--11 mm. Petals 2-lobed, glabrous. Staminode limb ovate, 2-cleft, yellow barbate. Filaments glabrous. Carpels 3, glabrous. Fl. Jul--Aug.

C and S Gansu, S Ningxia, E Qinghai.

* Picea forests, grassy slopes; 1900--2800 m.