30 NAT. ORDER. RANUNCDLACE^. 



Acjuilcgia vulgaris. Coimnon Columbine. This species rises 

 from oue to two feet high ; the spurs are a little incurved ; capsules 

 villous ; stem leafy, luaay-floweredj and is, as well as the leaves, 

 smoothish ; styles not exceeding the stamens in length ; flowers either 

 single or double, blue, white, rose-colored, purple or variegated, or 

 spotted with the same colors. The whole plant has been recommended 

 to be used mecUcinally, but it belongs to a susj^icious natural order, and 

 Linna;us aflkms that cliildren have lost their lives by an over-dose 

 of it. The virtues ascribed to a tincture of the flowers as an anti- 

 phlogistic, and for strengthening the gums and deterging scorbutic 

 ulcers in the mouth, appear to be better founded ; the tinctm'e being 

 made with au addition of the vitrioUc acid, and cUfleruig but little 

 from our officinal tincture of roses. It is a native all OA^er the United 

 States, m waste places, pastures, on the side of hUls and mountains, 

 among rocks. It flowers in JiUy and August. 



Aquilegia ccerulea. Blue Columbine. This species rises about 

 one foot high ; spurs straight, almost twice the length of the limb of 

 the petals ; styles and stamens shorter than the corolla ; stipulas 

 acute ; segments of the leaves deeply lobed ; flowers blue. Native 

 of North America, on the Rocky Mountains. 



Aquilegia brevistyla. Short-styled Columbine. This species 

 rises about two feet high ; the whole plant is rather pubescent ; spurs 

 incurved, shorter than the limb ; styles short, inclosed ; stamens 

 rather shorter than the coroUa ; stem and leaves as in Aquilegia vul- 

 garis, but the flowers are only about one-half the size, color, blue. 

 Native of North America, in the western part of Canada, and as far 

 north as Bear Lake. 



Aquilegia viscosa. Clammy Columbine. Tliis species rises from 

 eighteen inches to two feet in height ; spurs incurved ; capsules vil- 

 lous ; stem bearing one, or tliree flowers, almost naked, and is as 

 well as the leaves clothed with clammy pubescence ; style not ex- 



