Consolida

(de Candolle) Gray

Nat. Arr. Brit. Pl. 2: 711. 1822.

Common names: Larkspur
Etymology: Latin consolidatus, to become solid or firm, from reputed ability to heal wounds
Basionym: Delphinium sect. Consolida de Candolle Syst. Nat. 1: 341. 1817
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 3.
 TaxonIllustrator 
FNA03 P42 Consolida Coptis Xanthorhiza pg 243.jpegCoptis laciniata
Consolida regalis
Coptis aspleniifolia
Coptis occidentalis
Coptis trifolia
Consolida pubescens
Consolida ajacis
Xanthorhiza simplicissima
John Myers
John Myers
John Myers
John Myers
John Myers
John Myers
John Myers
John Myers

Herbs, annual, from slender taproots. Leaves all cauline at anthesis, alternate, proximal leaves petiolate, distal leaves nearly sessile. Leaf-blade palmately finely dissected, ±semicircular, lobes less than 2 mm wide (except sometimes on leaves near base of stem), margins entire. Inflorescences terminal, 3-45 (-75) -flowered racemes, 5-30 cm; bracts leaflike, not forming involucre. Flowers bisexual, bilaterally symmetric; sepals not persistent in fruit, 5; upper sepal 1, spurred, 5-18 mm; lateral sepals 2, elliptic or lanceolate, sometimes spurred, 5-18 mm; lower sepals 2, similar to lateral sepals; petals 2, connate, blue to purple, pink, or white, spurred, spur enclosed in upper sepal, 1-2-lobed, 3-8 mm; nectary on spur; stamens many; filaments with base expanded; staminodes absent between stamens and pistils; pistil 1, simple; ovules several per pistil; style present. Fruits follicles, solitary, sessile, ±cylindric, sides smooth; beak terminal, straight, 1-2 mm. Seeds dark-brown to black, obpyramidal to 3-angled. x=8.

Distribution

Temperate and subtropical regions, North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia

Discussion

Species ca. 40 (5 in the flora).

All species of Consolida included here are cultivated in North America. Consolida regalis has been reported to self-sow for many years. Inclusion of the other four species is based on herbarium specimens with label data indicating that the specimens were collected from sites not under cultivation at the time.

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Proximal bracts simple, sometimes lowermost 3-lobed. > 2
1 Proximal bracts (at least 2 lowermost) dissected into 3 or more lobes. > 4
2 Spur less than 12 mm. Consolida tenuissima
2 Spur 12 mm or more. > 3
3 Terminal lobe of petal more than 2 mm wide, sinus more than 0.5 mm deep; stems ± puberulent. Consolida regalis
3 Terminal lobe of petal less than 2 mm wide, sinus less than 0.5 mm deep; stems densely pubescent. Consolida pubescens
4 Bracteoles touching sepals, 1–5 mm proximal to flower; spur 12 mm or less. Consolida orientalis
4 Bracteoles (at least on proximal flowers) not touching sepals, 4–20 mm proximal to flower; spur 12 mm or more. > 5
5 Follicles less than 1/2 length of proximal pedicels; inflorescence with 3 or more branches; stems pubescent. Consolida pubescens
5 Follicles 1/2 or more length of proximal pedicels; inflorescence usually with 3 or fewer branches; stems glabrous to sparsely puberulent. Consolida ajacis
... more about "Consolida"
Michael J. Warnock +
(de Candolle) Gray +
cuneate +, truncate +  and cordate +
expanded +
Delphinium sect. Consolida +
straight +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
globose;cylindric +
Larkspur +
Temperate and subtropical regions +, North America +, Europe +, Africa +, Asia +  and Australia +
Latin consolidatus, to become solid or firm, from reputed ability to heal wounds +
sessile +  and pedicellate +
showy +  and inconspicuous +
axillary +  and terminal +
lanceolate +  and elliptic +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (1.8 cm18 mm <br />0.018 m <br />) +
compound +  and simple +
whorled +, opposite +  and alternate +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
palmate +  and pinnate +
incised;toothed;incised;toothed;entire +
blue +  and purple pink or white +
conspicuous +
spurred +, funnel--shaped +, cup-shaped +  and plane +
reduced +
Nat. Arr. Brit. Pl. +
3-45(-75)-flowered +
5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br /> (30 cm300 mm <br />0.3 m <br />) +
not arillate +  and stalked +
dark-brown +  and black +
obpyramidal +  and 3-angled +
not persistent +
distinct +
3 +  and 6 +
1-2-lobed +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
persistent +
Consolida +
Ranunculaceae +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (1.8 cm18 mm <br />0.018 m <br />) +
herbaceous +  and woody +