Citation: P. Ball & Heyw. in Heyw. & P. Ball, Reprium nov. Spec. Regni veg. 66:151 (1962).

Synonymy: Delphinium ambiguum L., Sp. Pl., edn 2, 1:749 (1763); D. ajacis sensu J. Black, Fl. S. Aust. 364 (1948), (?non L.).

Common name: Eastern larkspur.

Description:
Stem up to 1 m, simple or branched; basal leaves with oblong segments, cauline leaves with linear segments.

Inflorescence usually racemose, occasionally paniculate; lower bracts dissected; bracteoles small, remote, usually not reaching the base of the flower; lower pedicels mostly more than 12 mm in fruit, but less than twice as long as the ripe follicle; sepals 10-14 (rarely to 20) mm, usually deep-blue; spur 13-18 mm; nectary 3-lobed, with a 2-fid upper lobe.

Follicle 15-20 mm long, c. 5 mm thick, pubescent, gradually narrowed at the apex; seeds black.

	Consolida ambigua twig and flower.
Image source: fig 196c in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

Published illustration: Hegi (1974) Illustrierte Flora yon Mittel-Europa 3, 3:fig. 102.

Distribution:  Introduced to Australia as an ornamental garden plant. Occasionally escaped in S.Aust.   Native to the Mediterranean region. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: Dec. (1 record).

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Taxonomic notes: The above description has been taken from that by A.O. Chater (1964), Flora Europaea 1:217, as no adequate S.Aust. herbarium specimens were available. It is possible that the species of Consolida which escaped in S.Aust. is C. orientalis (Gay)Schroedinger (1909), Abh. Zool.Bot. Ges. Wien 4/5:8, 27 (Delphinium orientale Gay in Des Moul. (1840) Cat. rais.pl. Dorodogne 12) which differs from C. ambigua by bracteoles close to, and reaching beyond base of flower, spur shorter, (rarely 8) 10-12 mm long, and follicle very abruptly contracted at the apex.

Author: Not yet available