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Consolida regalis

Common name:	Larkspur	Family:	Ranunculaceae
Author:	Gray.	Botanical references:	200
Synonyms:	Delphinium consolida (L.)
Known Hazards:	All parts of the plant are poisonous in large doses[4, 21, 65]. The seed is especially toxic[4].
Range:	S. Europe. A rare casual in Britain[17].
Habitat:	Cornfields and waste places, usually on sandy or chalky soils, avoiding shade in Britain[4, 17].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	0	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	3

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	C. ajacis[B,C,CAL,G,H,P] C. ambigua[B,C,G,H,P] Delphinium ajacis[B,G,H,,P] Delphinium ambiguum[B,G,P] Delphinium consolida[H] Delphinium consolida [H]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Doubtful Knight's Spur [P], Doubtful Knight's-spur [B], Field Larkspur [H], Forked Larkspur [H], Forking Larkspur [L], Hezaren [E], Larkspur [H], Royal Knight's Spur [P], Royal Knight's-spur [B], Wilde Ridderspoor [D],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	regalis = royal solida = solid
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Ranunculales. Buttercup family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	India Turkey

Physical Characteristics

Annual/Biennial growing to 0.5m. . It is in flower from June to July, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees and Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). The plant is self-fertile. It is noted for attracting wildlife. We rate it 0/5 for edibility and 3/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Cultivated Beds.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Anthelmintic Diuretic Hypnotic Hypotensive Purgative Vasodilator.

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[268]. It is of value, however, when used externally, to kill skin parasites[268]. The plant should be used with caution[9, 21], see the notes above on toxicity.
The seed is anthelmintic, mildly diuretic, hypnotic, purgative and vasodilator[21]. It has been used internally in the treatment of spasmodic asthma and dropsy[4].
The flowers or the whole plant are mildly diuretic and hypotensive[9].
The expressed juice of the leaves has been considered an effective application to bleeding piles[4].
A conserve made from the flowers has been seen as a good remedy for children when subject to violent purging[4]. The juice of the flowers has also been used as a treatment for colic[4].

Other Uses

Dye Ink Insecticide Parasiticide.

A strong tincture of the fresh seed is used externally to kill lice and nits in the head and pubic hair[4, 61, 74, 268]. It is also effective against aphids and thrips[20].
A good blue ink is obtained from the expressed juice of the petals together with a little alum[4]. It is made from the leaves according to another report[74]. It is also used as a dye[74] and is green when mixed with alum[46, 61].

Cultivation details

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[54]. Other reports say that it is a good companion for wheat[18, 20].
A good bee plant[74].
Plants resent root disturbance and should not be transplanted[200].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in situ[200]. It can also be autumn sown in areas with mild winters, otherwise sow in succession from spring to early summer[200]. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 3 weeks[200].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

Details of Medicinal Uses, Habitats, etc. in M. Grieve A Modern Herbal (1931) [4]
[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[L] Scientific and Common Names (some photos) from Lepidoptera and some other life forms
[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for Consolida ajacis (a possible synonym).

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[PHARM] Phytochemical Data (common names, uses, countries) from Dr Duke's Phytochemical Database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.

References for Delphinium consolida (a possible synonym).

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.

References for consolida regalis (a possible synonym).

[HP] PhotoFrom Henriette's plant pictures
[HP] PhotoFrom Henriette's plant pictures

References for the family Ranunculaceae.

[CHINA] Data Very detailed botanical/identification info. from the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[4] Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.

[9] Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981 ISBN 0-600-37216-2
Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information.

[17] Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.

[18] Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979
Details of beneficial and antagonistic relationships between neighbouring plants.

[20] Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978 ISBN 0-88266-064-0
Fairly good.

[21] Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.

[46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[54] Hatfield. A. W. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd 1977 ISBN 0-584-10141-4
Interesting reading.

[61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

[65] Frohne. D. and Pfänder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984 ISBN 0723408394
Brilliant. Goes into technical details but in a very readable way. The best work on the subject that I've come across so far.

[74] Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968
An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[268] Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979 ISBN 0-85613-067-2
Excellent herbal with good concise information on over 400 herbs.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
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