Plant:Columbine
 

Name:Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Columbine is also known as Red Columbine
Description:Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Columbine is also known as Red Columbine.

Plant Type: This is a herbaceous plant, it is a perennial which can reach 90cm in height (35inches).
Leaves: The leaves are alternate. . Each leaf is deeply lobed or divided.
Flowers: The flowers have 5 Regular Parts and are up to 5cm long (2 inches) and are up to 5cm wide (2 inches). They are red, orange and yellow. Blooms first appear in mid spring and continue into early summer. The flower hangs and the lower part is yellowish. The shape of the flower is very distinct.
Habitat: Rocky woods
Range: From Ontario as far south as Georga.

Similar Species: European Columbine (A. vulgaris) which has shorter spurs on the flowers which may be blue, violet, white or pink has become naturalized in some areas.

www.2bnTheWild.com - Wildflowers of the Southeastern United States, Page updated on 04/23/2001 07:37:50 AM. Viewed on Sat May 8 15:27:07 CDT 2004. (Viewed date from local machine.)
© 1999-2002 Daniel Reed


 


 

Discussion:

Historical Lore: Young Native American men mixed the seeds with their smoking tobacco to give it a more pleasant aroma and this may have been considered a love charm. It was considered to possess a persuasive power and was so used in council meetings.

Medical Uses: The root tea or chewed root and sometimes the leaves, has been used as a diuretic and to treat diarrhea and other stomach troubles. The root contains aquilegunine, berberine, magnoflorine and other alkaloids.
Warning
: The plant could be toxic if taken in large amounts especially to children.

www.2bnTheWild.com - Wildflowers of the Southeastern United States, Page updated on 04/23/2001 07:37:50 AM. Viewed on Sat May 8 15:27:07 CDT 2004. (Viewed date from local machine.)
© 1999-2002 Daniel Reed

Image:COLUMBINE.jpg (59285 bytes) Location:N 39° 36.733

                 W 087° 41.433

Map:

© Copyright 2004, Paris High School, all rights reserved.
Photos courtesy: PHS

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