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Rocket Larkspur
Consolida ajacis
45.0694, 13.6547
Field Notes
Description:
It is an annual flowering plant of the family Ranunculaceae that has been frequently grown in gardens as an ornamental for its spikes of blue [ http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/31476062 ], white [ http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/28384008 ] or pink flowers like the specimen on the photo. It may reach a meter in height. Each flower is then replaced by a pubescent follicle containing numerous small black seeds. These seeds are small enough to be dispersed by gusts of wind. The root system is a slender branching taproot. This plant spreads by reseeding itself, and may form colonies at favorable sites, although it usually doesn't persist.
Habitat:
It is native to Eurasia. It is widespread in other areas, including much of North America, where it was an introduced species.
Notes:
Since the aerial parts and seeds of Consolida ajacis have been found to contain diterpenoid alkaloids (see below), including the highly toxic methyllycaconitine, the plants should be considered as poisonous! Latin synonims: Consolida ambigua, Delphinium ajacis, Delphinium ambiguum; other name: Doubtful Knight's Spur.
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