Consolida ajacis

Flower name
Consolida ajacis
Scientific name
Consolida ajacis
Alias飛燕草, ヒエンソウ, lark spur, ラークスパー, 千鳥草
Place of originSouthern Europe, Mediterranean,
Place of floweringGarden, Botanical Gardens, Low mountains, Park
Flowering seasonMay, June, July
Language of flowers"Freedom," "Cheerfulness," "Liveliness"

What is Consolida ajacis

Consolida ajacis or Larkspur (Scientific Name: Consolida ajacis) is an annual (biennial) plant belonging to the Ranunculaceae family and the genus Consolida. It is native to Southern Europe and the Mediterranean region. Also known as lark spur, hiyenso, it is referred to in English as rocket larkspur, giant larkspur, eastern larkspur, and larkspur.

Previously classified under the genus Delphinium, it is now placed under the genus Consolida, making it closely related to the Delphinium (Delphinium × cultorum), also known as oohiyenso .

The stem is upright and branches at the top. The leaves are both basal and stem leaves. The basal leaves are palmate and divided into 3-4 lobes, while the stem leaves are thread-like and finely divided into 15-20 segments.

From May to July, racemes extend from the tips of long stems, bearing blue or purple five-petaled flowers. These five petals are actually sepals, with a long "spur" protruding from the back like a dragonfly's tail. The true petals are two white, leathery structures inside the five sepals, containing the reproductive organs.

Origin of the Name
The Japanese names "chidoriso" (千鳥草) and "hiyenso" (飛燕草) refer to the resemblance of the flowers to the flying shapes of plovers and swallows. The English name "larkspur" means "lark’s spur," referring to the spur behind the sepals that resembles a bird’s spur.

The genus name "Consolida" is derived from the Latin word for "consolidate" (to stop bleeding), as the plant was used in wound treatments. The species name "ajacis" comes from the Greek hero Ajax, whose blood was said to have given rise to the plant after his death. However, this story is also associated with the hyacinth.

Language of Flowers
"Freedom," "Cheerfulness," "Liveliness"

Common Name: Consolida ajacis or Larkspur, Scientific Name: Consolida ajacis, Other Names: Larkspur, Chidoriso, Classification: Plantae, Angiosperms, Eudicots, Ranunculales, Ranunculaceae, Consolida, Origin: Southern Europe, Mediterranean, Habitat: Sunny, well-drained locations, Life Cycle: Annual (biennial), Height: 50–100 cm, Leaf Stalk: Short, Leaves: Basal and stem leaves, Basal Leaves: Palmate, divided into 3–4 lobes, Stem Leaves: 15–20 linear segments, Leaf Shape: Bipinnate or palmate, Flower Symmetry: Zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical), Flower Type: Hermaphroditic, Inflorescence Type: Terminal raceme, Bloom Period: May to July, Flower Diameter: 2.5–3.5 cm, Sepals (Appear as Petals): 5, Flower Colors (Sepal Colors): Red, purple, blue, white, pink, bicolor, Bloom Form (Sepals): Single, double, True Petals: 2, True Petal Color: White, Stamen Count: Numerous, Pistil Count: 1, Fruit Type: Follicle, Fruit Shape: Elliptic, tapering to a point, Seed Color: Brown or black, Uses: Garden planting, cut flowers.