Delphinium variegatum ssp. kinkiense

San Clemente Island Larkspur

FWS Focus

Overview

Characteristics
Overview

The San Clemente Island larkspur is an herbaceous perennial in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). It was initially listed as endangered in 1977 as threats to the species included nonnative herbivores, land use, erosion, non-native plants, fire and fire management and climate change climate change
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.

Learn more about climate change
. Due to the removal of nonnative herbivores and the Navy’s development of an Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan to implement erosion and fire control measures, the species recovered to the point where it was delisted in 2023.

Scientific Name

Delphinium variegatum ssp. kinkiense
Common Name
royal larkspur
San Clemente Island larkspur
FWS Category
Flowering Plants
Kingdom

Location in Taxonomic Tree

Identification Numbers

TSN:

Characteristics

Characteristic category

Physical Characteristics

Characteristics
Size & Shape

It is generally less than two feet tall with woody, branched roots.

Color & Pattern

It has light blue to white flowers.

Characteristic category

Habitat

Characteristics
Habitat

It is generally found within mid- to high- elevation grasslands on the east side of the northern and central portions of the island. It occurs in clay, loam, and rocky soils with soil-depths ranging from shallow to deep; however, it is more often associated with non-clay soils.

Characteristic category

Life Cycle

Characteristics
Life Cycle

It can survive below ground when conditions are unfavorable and may remain dormant and not appear above-ground for one or more years.

Geography

Characteristics
Range

It is endemic to San Clemente Island in Los Angeles County, California.

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