CROWFOOT FAMILY 



Sepals. — Five, petal-like, similar, red tinged with yellow. 



Petals. — Five between the sepals, each consisting of a spur and an 

 open border; spurs red, border yellow. 



Stamens.— M-Any on the receptacle; filaments of varying lengths. 



Pistil. — Five distinct carpels, each with a slender style, minute stig- 

 matic surface at summit. 



Fruit. — Five many-seeded carpels; seeds small. 



The Red Columbine is the native Aquilegia of New England 

 and the Middle States. Its chosen home is among the rocks, 

 and one often sees it in early spring clinging to a cleft, the stems 

 dancing with the wind and the flowers aflame against the gray 

 ledges. A wild creature, it submits to civilization if it must, but 

 loses something of its rare grace thereby. It is better in the rock 

 garden or the wild-flower section than along the garden walk. 

 The wilfulness of the untamed is in its blood, and it yields its body 

 but not its spirit to the fetters of the gardener. The stalks send 

 out their lateral branches at a wide angle, and these divide again; 

 this makes the flowers unmanageable when cut and emphasizes 

 the fact that they never should be forced to do household duty. 

 Their r61e is the simple life out-of-doors. 



In order to obtain the plants it is best to gather the ripe seeds 

 in July and sow them so that the seedlings are well established be- 

 fore winter. Such plants will bloom the next year. 



WESTERN COLUMBIHE 



AquiUgia canadensis vax . formdsa. Aquiligia formbsa. 



Plant of the habit of the Red Columbine, though it prefers low, moist 

 situations. Found from Sitka to California and east to the Rockies. 

 Appears in our gardens as a primitive and in hybrids. May to August. 



Stems and leaves. — Like those of Aquilegia canadensis. 

 Flowers. — Red and yellow. 



Sepals.— l^ongtr than the spurs; spurs rather spreading. 

 Stamens and pistil. — Like the type. 



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