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Aquilegia

Aquilegia ( columbine ) is a genus of about 60-70 species of herbaceous perennial plants that are found in meadows, woodlands, and at higher altitudes throughout the Northern Hemisphere. They are known for their distinctive flowers, generally bell-shaped, with each petal modified into an elongated nectar spur. Its fruit takes the form of a follicle.

Several species are grown in gardens, including Aquilegia vulgaris (European Columbine), a traditional garden flower in many parts of the world. Numerous hybrids have also been developed as well. They are easy to propagate from seed.

They are used as food plants by some Lepidoptera species including Cabbage Moth, Dot Moth, The Engrailed and Mouse Moth.

Use and toxicity

The flowers of various species of Aquilegia were consumed in moderation by Native Americans as a condiment with other fresh greens, and are reported to be very sweet, and safe if consumed in small quantities. The plant's seeds and roots are highly poisonous, and contain cardiogenic toxins which cause both severe gastroenteritis and heart palpitations if consumed as food. Native Americans used very small amounts of Aquilegia root as an effective treatment for ulcers, however, the use of this plant internally is best avoided due to its high toxicity.

Aquilegia species are closely related to plants in the genus Actaea (Baneberry) , which also produce cadiogenic toxins, and Aconitum, a highly toxic plant genus which contains wolfbane and several varieties of monkshood .

Selected species

Aquilegia alpina
Aquilegia atrata – Dark Columbine
Aquilegia atrovinosa
Aquilegia aurea
Aquilegia barbaricina
Aquilegia barnebyi – Oil Shale Columbine
Aquilegia bernardii
Aquilegia bertolonii
Aquilegia blecicii
Aquilegia brevistyla – Smallflower Columbine
Aquilegia buergeriana
Aquilegia caerulea – Colorado Blue Columbine, the official Colorado state flower
Aquilegia canadensis – Canadian Columbine, Red Columbine
Aquilegia champagnatii
Aquilegia chrysantha – Golden Columbine
Aquilegia desertorum – Desert Columbine
Aquilegia desolatica – Desolation Columbine
Aquilegia dinarica
Aquilegia ecalcarata
Aquilegia einseleana
Aquilegia elegantula – Western Red Columbine
Aquilegia eximia – Van Houtte's Columbine
Aquilegia flabellata
Aquilegia flavescens – Yellow Columbine
Aquilegia formosa – Crimson Columbine, Western Columbine
Aquilegia glandulosa
Aquilegia grahamii – Graham's Columbine
Aquilegia grata
Aquilegia incurvata
Aquilegia japonica
Aquilegia jonesii – Jones's Columbine
Aquilegia karatavica
Aquilegia karelini
Aquilegia kitaibelii
Aquilegia lactiflora
Aquilegia laramiensis – Laramie Columbine
Aquilegia litardierei
Aquilegia longissima – Longspur Columbine
Aquilegia loriae
Aquilegia micrantha – Mancos Columbine
Aquilegia moorcroftiana
Aquilegia nigricans
Aquilegia nugorensis
Aquilegia nuragica
Aquilegia olympica
Aquilegia ottonis
Aquilegia oxysepala
Aquilegia pancicii
Aquilegia parviflora
Aquilegia pubescens – Sierra Columbine
Aquilegia pubiflora
Aquilegia pyrenaica
Aquilegia rockii
Aquilegia thalictrifolia
Aquilegia saximontana – Rocky Mountain Columbine
Aquilegia schockleyi
Aquilegia scopulorum – Blue Columbine, Utah Columbine
Aquilegia sibirica
Aquilegia transsilvanica
Aquilegia triternata – Chiricahua Mountain Columbine
Aquilegia turczaninovii
Aquilegia viridiflora
Aquilegia viscosa
Aquilegia vitalii
Aquilegia vulgaris – Common Columbine, European Columbine
Aquilegia yabeana

More Information About The Aquilegia

Aquilegia

Aquilegia (columbine) is a genus of about 60-70 species of herbaceous perennial plants that are found in meadows, woodlands, and at higher altitudes throughout the Northern ...

Aquilegia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A PLANTS profile of Aquilegia canadensis (red columbine) from the USDA PLANTS database ... Click on the image below to enlarge it and download a high-resolution JPEG file

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