Consolida orientalis(J.Gay) Schrödinger - Oriental Knight's-spur
Scientific Description:
Stem 20−74 cm, simple or sparingly branched, glandular-pubescent above. Leaf laciniae numerous, linear-setaceous. Flowers in rather dense racemes, intense violet. Pedicels 1−2 × spur, the lower more than 12 mm in fruit. Bracteoles attached to the upper part of pedicels, reaching at least to the base of the flowers. Spur somewhat shorter than the sepals. Corolla 3-lobed, upper lobe deeply bifid; often longer than the rounded lateral lobes. Follicles narrowly ovate-oblong, erect, pubescent, gibbous above, with the incurved, 1 mm beak inserted laterally below the apex of the fruit.
Flowering time: May−August.
Habitat: In grain and fallow fields, nr. s.l.−1900 m.
Reference:
Davis PH (1965). Consolida orientalis L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 1: 139.
Public Description:
Consolida orientalis, commonly known as “oriental knight’s-spur”, is native to southern Europe, Türkiye and North Africa and introduced in North America. It is an annual herbaceous plant that embellishes especially cereals and fallow fields with its dark purple and ostentatious flowers between May and August. They can be considered as weeds cultivated fields because they are intensively invasive. These plants are attractive to bees, butterflies and birds and can be used as ornamental plants.
References:
Anonymous 1 (2017). http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/101361/#b/,Accessed date: 07.04.2017.
Anonymous 2 (2017). https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/consolida/orientalis/ ,Accessed date: 07.04.2017.
Ertuğrul K (2012). Consolida (DC.) S.F. Gray, In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 774−776.