34 
THE LADIES' FLOWER-GARDEN 
9.— AQUILEGIA HYBRIDA, Sims. THE HYBRID COLUMBINE. 
Specific Charactek. — Spurs of the petals incurved, much lougei 
thaa the limb. Leaves slightly pubescent. 
SvNONVMES. — A. vulgaris, var. spccios.i, Ait.; A. bicolor, Ehrh. ; 
A. sibirica, Don. 
Enchavino Bot. Mag. 1221. 
DEScniPTiON, &c. — This beautiful hybrid is said to have been raised between A. vulgaris and A. canadensis. 
The flowers are exceedingly handsome, the sepals being of the dark, livid colour of the common Columbine, and 
the petals with a clear white limb, deepening into dark blue in the spur. The leaves have not the purplish hue 
of those of A. canadensis, and they are much more pubescent, feeling very soft on both sides. This kind of 
Columbine was first seen in British gardens in 1809, but whether it be a true hybrid or a species, appears very 
doubtful. It is generally propagated by division of the root, but it is said also to come true from seed. 
10.— AQUILEGIA CANADENSIS, Linn. THE CANADIAN COLUMBINE. 
Specific Character. — Spurs of the petals erect, straight, much 
longer than the limb, stamens considerably exserted, follicles smooth. 
Stnonymes. — A. pumiln, Corn.; A. fraicox, Moris. ; The early 
red Columbine of Virginia, Park. 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag. t. 246 j and our Jig. 7 in Plate 8. I 
Description, &c. — This very curious Columbine was introduced from Virginia about 1640, by Mr. John Tra- 
descant, son of the gardener of Charles I. The flowers are scarlet and orange, and there are two bracts on each 
pedicel, which grow so near the flower as to have almost the appearance of a distinct green calyx, and is said in 
its native country never to be above nine inches high, but in this country it generally attains the same size as the 
common Columbine. It is quite hardy in British gardens, and it may be easily propagated by dividing its roots 
in autumn or spring ; or it may be raised from seeds, which it ripens in great abundance ; but in the latter case, 
the seeds should be sown as soon as ripe, as otherwise they will be a long time before they come up. 
11.— AQUILEGIA SKINNERII, Hook. MR. SKINNER'S COLUMBINE. 
Synonvmes. — Aquilegia mexicina, Dec. ; The Mexican Columbine. 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag. t. 3919 ; and our Jig. 1 in Plate 8. 
Specific Character. — The whole plant is glabrous. Spurs straight, 
spreading, and five times longer than the limb. Sepals lanceolate, 
twice as long as the limb of the petals ; stamens Very long, exserted ; 
styles three, rarely five. 
Description, &c. — The flowers of this species are easily distinguished by the great length of their spurs, 
which are frequently nearly two inches long ; and by their stamens, which are very numerous, and much protruded. 
There are generally only three styles. The flowers are drooping^ but when the seeds begin to swell, the flower- 
stalks which bear them become quite erect, as in the otlier species. The follicles of A. Skinnerii have broad, 
membranous, crisped wings. This magnificent Columbine was sent to Woburn Abbey in 1840, by G. H. Skinner, 
Esq., from Guatemala ; so that its native place is much farther South than that of any other species yet in- 
troduced. Sir W. J. Hooker informs us that A. Skinnerii " proves to be perfectly hardy, having survived the severe 
winters of 1840-41 in the open ground at Woburn, and flowering in great beauty during the summer of 1841." 
OTHER SPECIES OF AQUILEGIA. 
These are numerous, but the most beautiful is said to be the A. cmrulea of Dr. Torrey, described as A. macrantha 
by Drs. Hooker and Arnott, in Beechey's Voyage ; which does not appear to have been yet introduced. 
A.fortnosa is also a very handsome species, nearly allied to A. canadensis. 
