Aquilegia vulgaris, Linn. (A. stellàta, Hort. A. atrata, Koch). Common Columbine of Eu. Sts. 1½-2 ft. high, many-fld., finely pubescent throughout: root-lvs. with 3 partial-petioles 1½-2 in. long, secondary branches certain, ultimate If .-lobes shallow and roundish, texture firm; lower st.-lvs. petioled and biternate: fls. violet, furnished with a claw, acute, 1 in. long, half as wide; petal-limb ¾ in. long, equaling the head of stamens; spur about same length, stout, much incurved, knobbed: follicles densely pubescent, 1 in. long, style half as long. Summer. Eu., Siberia, and naturalized in Amer. Gn. 12, p. 288; 70, p. 16 (as A. stellata). G.W. 3, p. 229. Var. flôre-plèno, Hort. Fls. much doubled, ranging from pure white to deep blue. Here belong many horticultural varieties with personal names. Var. Vervoeneàna, Hort. (var. foliis-aùreis, Hort. Var. atroviolàcea, Hort.). Lvs. with yellow variegated lines.
Var. nivea, Baumg. (var. alba, Hort.). Munstead's white Columbine. Often 2-3 ft. high: a great profusion of large, pure white fls. for several weeks in early spring. Var. nivea grandiflora, Hort., is much like this.
Var. olympica, Baker (A. olympica, Boiss. A. Wittmanniàna, Hort. A. blanda. Lern.). A fine variety, with several large fls. ; sepals light lilac or bright purple, 1 in. or more in length; petal-limb white. I.H. 4:146. R.H. 1896, p. 108.
Var. hybrida, Sims. Much like the last variety, but with stout, lilac-purple spurs as long as the sepals, only slightly incurved.—Probably a hybrid of A. vulgaris and A. canadensis. B.M. 1221.
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