Delphinium gracile

Delphinium es un genero de cerca 250 especies de plantas anuales, bienales o perenes florales, de la familia Ranunculaceae nativas a través del Hemisferio norte y también de la alta montaña tropical del Africa.

Reino:Plantae
División:Magnoliophyta
Clase:Magnoliopsida
Orden:Ranunculales
Familia:Ranunculaceae
Género:Delphinium

All parts of the plant contain an alkaloid delphinine and are very poisonous, causing vomiting when eaten, and death in larger amounts. In small amounts, extracts of the plant have been used in herbal medicine. Gerard's herball reports that drinking the seed of larkspur was thought to help against the stings of scorpions, and that other poisonous animals could not move when covered by the herb, but does not believe it himself. Grieve's herbal reports that the seeds can be used against parasites, especially lice and their nits in the hair. A tincture is used against asthma and dropsy. The juice of the flowers, mixed with alum, gives a blue ink.
The plant was connected to Saint Odile and in popular medicine used against eye-diseases. It was one of the herbs used on the feast of St. John and as such warded against lightning. In Transylvania, it was used to keep witches from the stables, probably because of its blue color.


Rambla del Cañar.Cartagena.12/06/2007