Practical
Plants

Consolida ambigua

Larkspur

an annual member of the Consolida genus in the family Ranunculaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
1 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Lepidoptera
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Lepidoptera

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The whole plant is poisonous[2].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Larkspur formerly had a reputation for its ability to consolidate and heal wounds[4], whilst the juice from the leaves is considered to be a remedy for piles and an infusion of the flowers and leaves has been used as a remedy for colicky children[4]. However, the whole plant is very poisonous and it should not be used internally without the guidance of an expert. Externally, it can be used as a parasiticide[2]. A tincture of the seed is applied externally to kill lice in the hair[3].

Product or use
Parasiticide
Product or use
Vulnerary

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The seed is insecticidal[3]. A tincture made from the seed is said to be effective against hair nits[4]. There is uncertainty as to whether the insecticidal effect is due to the oil or alkaloids in the seed[3]. The seed contains 39% of a fixed oil, though the report does not say if this is ever exploited[3].

Product or use
Insecticide
Product or use
Oil
Product or use
Parasiticide

Environment

Range
Europe - Mediterranean.
Habitat
Corn fields[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow in succession from spring to early summer in situ. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks[1]. Seedlings transplant badly[1]. An autumn sowing can succeed in areas with mild winters[1]. The seed has a short viability and should not be stored for more than one season[1].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An easily grown plant, it prefers a sunny position in a well-drained soil. This species is called Consolida ajacis by some botanists[5]. Larkspur is a greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes[6]. Plants resent root disturbance and should not be transplanted[1].

References

  1. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  2. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2

  3. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  5. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    ↩

  6. Hatfield. A. W. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-584-10141-4

    ↩

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