Aquilegia vulgaris
Aquilegia formosa
ancolie vulgaire, European columbine
columbine, crimson columbine, narcissus anemone, northern anemone, red columbine, Sitka columbine, western columbine
30-72 cm.
(15-)30-100 cm.
2x-ternately compound, 10-30 cm, much shorter than stems;
leaflets green adaxially, to 15-47 mm, not viscid;
primary petiolules 22-60 mm (leaflets not crowded), pilose or rarely glabrous.
2x-ternately compound, 10-40 cm, much shorter than stems;
leaflets green adaxially, to 14-68 mm, not viscid (petioles and petiolules viscid in var. hypolasia);
primary petiolules 16-95 mm (leaflets not crowded), glabrous or pilose.
nodding;
sepals divergent from or perpendicular to floral axis, mostly blue or purple, lance-ovate, (10-)15-25 × 8-12 mm, apex broadly acute or obtuse;
petals: spurs mostly blue or purple, hooked, 14-22 mm, stout, evenly tapered from base, blades mostly blue or purple, oblong, 10-13 × 6-10 mm;
stamens 9-13 mm.
nodding to pendent;
sepals perpendicular to floral axis, red, elliptic to lanceolate, 10-26 × 4-9 mm, apex broadly acute to acuminate;
petals: spurs red, straight, ± parallel, 13-21 mm, stout, abruptly narrowed near middle, blades yellow, oblong, rounded, or obsolete, 0-6 × 4-6 mm;
stamens 12-17 mm.
15-25 mm;
beak 7-15 mm.
15-25(-29) mm;
beak 9-12 mm.
= 14 (Europe).
Aquilegia vulgaris
Aquilegia formosa
Aquilegia vulgaris is cultivated as an ornamental and occasionally escapes into disturbed habitats. Most plants have blue or purple flowers (the wild type), but horticultural races with white or reddish flowers sometimes become established. Many cultivated columbines are derived from hybrids between A. vulgaris and related species. Some of our escaped plants are probably descended from such hybrids.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).
The type specimen of Aquilegia formosa var. fosteri S. L. Welsh, described from southwestern Utah, has viscid leaves with short petiolules and crowded leaflets, erect, dark red flowers with slender, evenly tapering spurs, and long (19 mm) stamens. Aside from the red sepals and spurs, it has little in common with A. formosa and its relatives. The crowded leaflets, erect flowers, and evenly tapering spurs are reminiscent of A. scopulorum, and it could be a hybrid involving that species, but it is not clear what the other parent might be. The taxonomy of Aquilegia in southwestern Utah is complex, with six species known and several hybrid combinations apparently formed; satisfactory disposition of this name will require further work in the area.
Native Americans used Aquilegia formosa for various purposes: as a charm to gain the affections of men or to retain wealth and possessions; medicinally, seeds were chewed to alleviate stomach aches, and leaves were chewed or used in infusions to treat coughs, colds, and sore throats (D. E. Moerman 1986, varieties not indicated).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Blades of petals 3–6 mm; sepals 14–26 mm, 0.9–1.3 times as long as spurs. | var. formosa |
1. Blades of petals 0–3 mm; sepals 10–20 mm, 0.7–1.1 times as long as spurs. | → 2 |
2. Stems and petioles glabrous or sparingly pilose, not at all viscid. | var. truncata |
2. Stems and petioles densely pubescent, somewhat viscid. | var. hypolasia |
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