CONSOLIDA AJACIS

Family and Genus:- See- RANUNCULACEAE

Common Name:- Larkspur

Homotypic Synonyms:- Consolida ambigua, Delphinium ambiguum,

Delphinium ajacis.

Meaning:- Consolida (L) Whole-maker, an ancient Latin name from its use in

healing potions.

Ajacis (L). For Ajax son of Telemon (one of Jason's argonauts), from

whose blood grew a hyacinth marked AIA.

General description:- Medium to tall, annual.

Stem:-

10 Up to 100 cm, simple or branched.

Leaves:-

1) Cauline, several, much dissected, with linear ultimate segments.

2) Basal, with oblong segments.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, usually racemose, occasionally paniculate.

2) Bracts, lower, dissected; bracteoles, small, remote, usually not reaching the

base of the flower.

3) Pedicels, lower, mostly more than 12 mm in fruit, but less than twice as long as

the ripe follicle.

4) Perianth-segments, 10-14(-20) mm, usually deep blue.

a) spur, 13-18 mm.

5) Nectary, 3-lobed, with a bifid upper lobe.

Fruit:-

1) Follicle, 15-20 x 5 mm pubescent, gradually narrowed at the apex.

2) Seeds, black.

Key features:-

1) Bracteoles, of least the lower flowers, not reaching the base of the flower.

2) Spur, 12 mm or more.

3) Inflorescence, usually racemose.

4) Ripe follicle, 15-20 mm.

Click here for a glossary of terms used

Habitat:- Cutlivated and fallow fields, vineyards, olive groves, roadsides, ascending

to montane levels in open woodland and dry stream-beds. 0-1200(-1600) m.

Distribution:- Widespread across the Mediterranean, but absent from most of the

smaller islands. Limited distribution on Crete, not common.

Flowering time:- Mid-Apr-July.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton