Consolida regalis
| Consolida regalis | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Mid Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Shelter | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Consolida regalis (common name: larkspur)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in situ[1]. It can also be autumn sown in areas with mild winters, otherwise sow in succession from spring to early summer[1]. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 3 weeks[1].
Cultivation: 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[2].
A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes[3]. Other reports say that it is a good companion for wheat[4][5].
A good bee plant[6].
Plants resent root disturbance and should not be transplanted[1].
Range: S. Europe. A rare casual in Britain[7].
Habitat: Cornfields and waste places, usually on sandy or chalky soils, avoiding shade in Britain[8][7].
Medicinal: 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[9]. It is of value, however, when used externally, to kill skin parasites[9]. The plant should be used with caution[10][11], see the notes above on toxicity.
The seed is anthelmintic, mildly diuretic, hypnotic, purgative and vasodilator[11]. 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[10].
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].
Usage: A strong tincture of the fresh seed is used externally to kill lice and nits in the head and pubic hair[8][12][6][9]. It is also effective against aphids and thrips[5].
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[6]. It is also used as a dye[6] and is green when mixed with alum[13][12].
Pollinators: Bees, lepidoptera
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: All parts of the plant are poisonous in large doses[8][11][14]. The seed is especially toxic[8].
Also Known As: Delphinium consolida.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Hatfield, Audrey. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd, 1974.
- ↑ Philbrick, Helen and Richard Gregg. Companion Plants. Watkins, 1979.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Riotte, Louise. Carrots Love Tomatoes. Garden Way, 1978.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Komarov, Vladimir. Flora of the USSR. Gantner Verlag, 1968.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Stuart, Malcolm. The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism. Orbis Publishing, 1979.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Frohne, Dietrich and Hans Pfänder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Timber Press, 1984.