122 POPULAR GARDEN FLOWERS 



The Columbine was used in heraldic devices, and 

 John Guillim (or Gwillim) (1565-1621), scholar of Braze- 

 nose, Oxford, official at the College of Arms, London, and 

 author of " A Display of Heraldrie," quotes " a chevron 

 sable between three Columbines," and speaks approv- 

 ingly of the flower itself, as " pleasing to the eye, as well 

 in respect of the seemly (and not vulgar) shape as in 

 regard of the azury colour." He gave it, too, a good 

 character in another respect it was " very medicinable 

 for throat troubles." 



Select Species and Hybrids. Aquilegia (pronuncia- 

 tion, Ak-wil-ee'-ji-a) vulgaris was variable in colour, 

 giving red, white, and blue forms. It comprised both 

 single and double flowers. Other species gave larger 

 flowers and a greater range of colours. Alpina is a 

 beautiful blue species from the Swiss Alps, growing 

 about a foot high, and being suitable for the rockery. 

 It is the same as grandiflora. Ccerulea, blue and white, 

 introduced from the Rocky Mountains in 1864, is a 

 charming Columbine. It has long, slender spurs tipped 

 with green. The height is fifteen to eighteen inches. 

 C&rulea hybrida is the result of crossing ccerulea with 

 chrysantha and other species. The Columbines were 

 first hybridised by a florist who was later to become 

 famous as a Carnation grower, James Douglas. He 

 made a large number of crosses, and secured strains 

 with large, long-spurred flowers, embracing many 

 colours. The seedsmen have a strain called Calif ornica 

 hybrida, the petals of which are yellow, and the sepals 

 and spurs orange. It grows about two feet high, and 

 certainly has the blood of chrysantha in it. The latter 

 is one of the noblest of the Columbines, growing three 

 to four feet high ; it has yellow flowers. Some botanists 

 do not accept it as a species, but consider it to be a 



