Delphinium staphisagria is a synonym

http://powo.science.kew.org/ https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:60456584-2

Culpeper: ‘Stavesager, kills lice in the head, I hold it not fitting to be given inwardly.’

Culpeper, Nicholas. (1650). A Physical Directory . London, Peter Cole.

Extracts were used on skin parasites.

Wink, Michael & Ben-Erik van Wyk (2008). Mind-Altering and Poisonous Plants of the World. Timber Press

Notes: Because of its toxicity if ingested, as noted by Culpeper, it can only be sold by registered pharmacies. Dioscorides used it as a purgative and for toothache. Pliny the Elder recommended the crushed seeds for killing head lice, and for curing ‘itch scab’, and advises against eating the seeds, although he wrote that the flowers pounded in wine counteracted snake bite. All Delphinium species are poisonous.

Oakeley, Dr. H. F. . (2013). The Gardens of the Pharmacopoeia Londinensis. Link

Active principle: all parts especially seeds: delphinine, nudicauline, staphisine, ajacine and other terpenoids alkaloids.

Wink, M. (2009). Mode of Action and toxicology of plant toxins and poisonous plants. Mitt. Julius Kuhn-Inst. 421:93-111. P.98

Extracts were used as a rat and ant poison

Wink, Michael & Ben-Erik van Wyk (2008). Mind-Altering and Poisonous Plants of the World. Timber Press

Africa, Macaronesia, Canary Is.

Africa, Northern Africa, Algeria

Africa, Northern Africa, Morocco

Africa, Northern Africa, Tunisia

Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Lebanon-Syria

Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Turkey

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Albania

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Greece

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Italy

Europe, Southwestern Europe, France

Europe, Southwestern Europe, Portugal

Europe, Southwestern Europe, Spain