Saturday, July 14, 2012

Western Columbine



 Western Columbine—Aquilegia Formosa is a distinguished 2 to 3 feet tall herb. The Latin word “columbina” means “dove like.” It lives in wooded mountain slopes and meadows in Southeastern and costal Southcentral Alaska. The base of leaves is twice divided into three parts, and the stem leaves are divided once. The leaves are dark green above and grayish-green below. It blooms in mid-June through July. The flower is unique shape; it has five red 10 to 25 mm long sepals, red 10 to 20 mm long and straight spurs, and yellow 2 to 6 mm long tube-shaped petals that stick out. The flower strongly attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. It’s called “red rain-flowers” in Haida; their tradition says if the flower was picked, it would be rain.   
Reference:
http://rainyside.com/plant_gallery/natives/Aquilegia_formosa.html
http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/beauty/columbines/aquilegia_formosa.shtml

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