Wild columbine 



# Wild Columbine ( Aquilegia canadensis) 

 Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae) 



The flowers are similar in shape to those of the familiar col- 

 umbine of the gardens; however, the wild columbine is red or 

 orange (with some yellow). It is a favorite species for the visits 

 of the ruby-throated hummingbird. The petals are hollow, 

 and the flower hangs upside down. It is most delightful to see 

 this plant blooming on rock cliffs (for example, at Apple River 

 Canyon in northwestern Illinois). However, this habitat is 

 locally rare, so most of our specimens are seen in woods, 

 especially woods of the Indiana dunes, where it occurs with 

 black oak, wild sarsaparilla, choke cherry, sassafras, witch 

 hazel, and cat brier. The foliage is often attacked by a leaf 

 miner, which makes characteristic serpentine lines in the 

 leaves. 



$? Swamp Buttercup (Ranunculus septentrionalis) 

 Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae) 



There are many buttercups in our area, but this is the showy 

 one commonly seen in spring woodlands, especially along 

 flood plains, where it associates with silver maple, white ash, 

 American elm, wild ginger, wood nettle, and golden Alexan- 

 ders. After flowering, it sends out conspicuous runners, or 

 stolons. The flowers are a brilliant shiny yellow, hence 

 "buttercup." The leaves are compound, thus enabling the 

 naturalist to easily distinguish the swamp buttercup from the 

 closely related marsh marigold . Swamp buttercup 



# Hoary Puccoon (Lithospermum canescens) 

 Borage Family (Boraginaceae) 



This orange-flowered plant is a distinctive member of our 

 prairie flora. Remember that the spring prairie plants bloom 

 somewhat later than their counterparts in the forest, so that 

 late May or early June would be a good time to see the prairie 

 in bloom. Hoary puccoon has a showy relative which is found 

 in both the Illinois and Indiana dunes, fairly close to Lake 

 Michigan. This is the hairy puccoon (known variously as 

 Lithospermum croceum and Lithospermum caroliniense) . It is a 

 rougher plant and grows somewhat taller, but is usually easily 

 distinguished by the difference in habitat. 



Hoary puccoon 



$? Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) 

 Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae) 



This is a very common plant of wooded dune marshes, especi- 

 ally in Indiana and Michigan, where it consistently grows with 

 the very early-blooming skunk cabbage. Marsh marigold's 

 leaves are rounded but never divided, thus easily distinguish- 

 ing it from the common showy buttercups. It is native to Eura- 

 sia as well as to America. Despite its name, the plant is not 

 even closely related to the cultivated French and African 

 marigolds (which are natives of Mexico!). 



17 



