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Consolida ajacis
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/314... ], white [ http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/283... ] 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.
It is native to Eurasia. It is widespread in other areas, including much of North America, where it was an introduced species.
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.
Spotted on Jun 23, 2013
Submitted on Jun 24, 2013
3 Comments
Its lovely! Thanks for sharing it :-)
Tnx, wasn't that small though, a bit smaller than a daisy ;) but the plant was actually one of the tallest around (well not that is anything else surviving under the acid from pine trees ;) ) around 35 to 40 cm! True happiness to spot a flower in the forest ;)
Nice series of a pretty little flower Injica!