Aquilegia

? Aquilegia
Aquilegia flavescens
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Ranunculales Family: Ranunculaceae Genus: Aquilegia L.
Species
See text

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 plants 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.

A. caerulea

A. formosa

Aquilegia hybrid cultivar 'Blue Butterflies'

A. vulgaris

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

References

• Flora Europaea: Aquilegia
• USDA PLant Profile: Aquilegia
• Flora of China: Aquilegia (see also links to related floras therein)