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 ^ 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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