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Consolida Gray

Ranunculaceae

  Consolida sp.: stem  
Alternate trade names

larkspur, Delphinium

Consolida (larkspur) is sometimes included in the genus Delphinium in the trade, but it is considered a separate genus botanically.

Common names

larkspur

Species cultivated

Consolida ambigua (L.) P.W. Ball & Hey. (=C. ajacis auct; Delphinium ajacis auct.)

C. orientalis (Gay) Schrödinger

C. regalis S.F. Gray (=Delphinium consolida L.1).

Origin

Mediterranean region.

Brief characterization

Leaves sessile, palmately deeply dissected and further dissected into narrow, filiform segments; spikelike racemes of spurred, zygomorphic flowers; petaloid calyx of 5 sepals ca. 1.5 cm long, one of which is elongated into a spur ca. 1.5-2.5 cm long; corolla small, forming the central "bee", of 2 upper petals united into 1 entire to 3-5-lobed petal, its spur projecting into sepal spur; stamens many.

Cultivar and/or species variation

Racemes dense to looser; flowers in numerous colors, sometimes with sepal edges picotee, in both single and double forms; doubles have more than the usual number of sepals rather than petals.

May be confused with

Delphinium

Delphinium differs from Consolida in having leaves shallowly to deeply dissected, with broad to narrow, but not filiform, lobes, and flowers with 4 petals in 2 unequal pairs, lower pair sometimes bearded.

Countries exporting

Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe.

Consolida sp.: inflorescence, closeup

Consolida sp.: flower face, double


 
Delphinium ajacis (=Consolida ambigua) 'Frosty Skies'
Photo: © California Cut Flower Commission
 
Delphinium ajacis (=Consolida ambigua)
Photo: © California Cut Flower Commission

Delphinium consolida (=Consolida regalis) 'Frosted Skies Improved'
Photo: © K. Sahin, Zaden B.V.


 
Consolida regalis 'Lavender Cloud'
Photo: © K. Sahin, Zaden B.V.
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