Delphinium andersonii

This beautiful blue showy family is a larkspur in the Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae). It's Anderson's Larkspur (Delphinium andersonii). Larkspurs fall under the genus Delphinium, which is Latin for dolphin, referring to the resemblance of the flower buds to the swimming mammal. 

This is the only Delphinium species in this particular area, but others are found in other parts of the Great Basin, including D. nuttalium, D. glaucum, and D. occidentale.

This particular flower is more purple than blue. The flowers are about 1 inch long. The spurs coming off the back of the flower are one of the distinguishing characteristics between species.

The sepals are the bright blue part of the flower, while the upper two petals are white and the lower petals are purple. Most of the leaves are basal and palmately divided.

For more information about Anderson's larkspur, click here.