AQUILE'GIA SKINNE'RI. 
skinner’s columbine. 
Class. Order. 
POLYANDRIA. PENTAGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
RANUNCULACE^. 
Native of 
Height, 
Flowers in 
Duration 
Introduced 
Portugal. 
3 feet. 
June, July, 
Perennial, 
in 1839, 
No. 937. 
The petals of some of the Aquilegias, when 
separated from each other, have the form of a bird, 
whence the names Aquilegia and Columbine have 
been deduced, from aquila, an eagle ; and colum- 
ba, a dove. Mr. Skinner, whose name is coupled 
wdth this species, was a botanical collector, in 
Gautemala, from which country he sent seeds of 
the plant to His Grace the Duke of Bedford, at 
Woburn Abbey. 
This is one of the most beautiful Aquilegias yet 
introduced to this country, and as it survived the 
severe winter of 1840 — 41 in the open borders, its 
hardy habit is not doubtful. Its spur, when finely 
grown, is nearly two inches long, a size which sur- 
passes those of the flowers of any other species of 
the genus. 
The Aquilegia Skinneri is yet a scarce treasure; 
and those who possess it should pot a plant in peat 
and loam, and give it cold frame protection, to 
guard against the possibility of losing it. As it 
may be raised from seeds there is no doubt of its 
becoming, ere long, an ornament in every good 
garden. 
235 . 
