Practical
Plants

Consolida regalis

Larkspur

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

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual, biennial
Height
0.5 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.

All parts of the plant are poisonous in large doses[8][6][12]. The seed is especially toxic[8].

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 was at one time used internally in the treatment of a range of diseases, but its only certain action is a violent purgative and nowadays it is only occasionally used in folk medicine[7]. It is of value, however, when used externally, to kill skin parasites[7]. The plant should be used with caution[14][6], see the notes above on toxicity. The seed is anthelmintic, mildly diuretic, hypnotic, purgative and vasodilator[6]. It has been used internally in the treatment of spasmodic asthma and dropsy[8]. The flowers or the whole plant are mildly diuretic and hypotensive[14]. The expressed juice of the leaves has been considered an effective application to bleeding piles[8]. A conserve made from the flowers has been seen as a good remedy for children when subject to violent purging[8]. The juice of the flowers has also been used as a treatment for colic[8].

Product or use
Anthelmintic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Hypnotic
Product or use
Hypotensive
Product or use
Purgative
Product or use
Vasodilator

Material uses

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

A strong tincture of the fresh seed is used externally to kill lice and nits in the head and pubic hair[8][11][13][7]. It is also effective against aphids and thrips[4]. A good blue ink is obtained from the expressed juice of the petals together with a little alum[8]. It is made from the leaves according to another report[13]. It is also used as a dye[13] and is green when mixed with alum[9][11].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Ink
Product or use
Insecticide
Product or use
Parasiticide

Environment

Range
S. Europe. A rare casual in Britain[2].
Habitat
Cornfields and waste places, usually on sandy or chalky soils, avoiding shade in Britain[8][2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in situ[5]. It can also be autumn sown in areas with mild winters, otherwise sow in succession from spring to early summer[5]. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 3 weeks[5].

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. Plants succeeded when growing in a dry shady position in the hot dry summer of 1989[K]. A very ornamental plant[1]. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes[10]. Other reports say that it is a good companion for wheat[3][4]. A good bee plant[13]. Plants resent root disturbance and should not be transplanted[5].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

    ↩

  4. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-85613-067-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  9. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩

  11. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  12. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩

  13. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  14. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2

Edit this page