CROWFOOT FAMILY RANUNCULACEAE 
WILD COLUMBINE 
Aquilegia canadensis L. 
The varying shades of color in these flowers should 
not confuse the observer. Two factors largely cause the 
change in colors within the species from deep yellow to 
crimson. One is the ease 
with which the flowers are 
pollinated and the other is 
the amount of limestone in 
the soil. The latter has led 
some botanists to call the 
limestone forms of Jo 
Daviess county Aquilegia 
formosa (=fair or hand- 
some.) 
This is the only species of 
Wild Columbine native in 
Illinois, though there are 
species other than this in 
southern and western states. 
All Columbines are fond of 
rocky slopes and ledges where 
the soil is scanty but they are 
also found in open woods, along 
railroads and in other undis- 
turbed places. This plant 
occurs throughout the eastern 
half of the United States, 
Maine to Minnesota, Florida and Texas. 
The flowers, produced from April to July, are scarlet outside 
and yellow within, the 5 sepals and 5 petals being colored alike. 
The petals are prolonged backward into hollow spurs which 
contain the nectar. Stamens are numerous and usually some 
are without anthers. There are 5 pistils crowded together, each 
crowned by a slender style. 
The fruits are cylindrical pods which open along the inner 
side, exposing the smooth and shining seeds arranged in 2 rows. 
Buds and flowers hang inverted but after pollination they slowly 
straighten up so that the fruit is erect as shown. 
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