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The Columbine

A discussion of the columbine, a North American wildflower, will provide some background information on the plant's flowers, reproductive aspects, cellular appearance, root system, and diversity. The common and scientific names for the plant were first given in reference to the European species of columbine. This is especially true in the use of Aquiligia. It means "eagle," and refers to the spurs of the flowers, which are bent at their tips like the talons of an eagle. A charming description of the flower is in the common name, columbine, which comes from columba, meaning "dove"; the five petals resemble five doves drinking at a dish.

Columbines are in the genus Aquilegia, which is in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. The U.S. native wild columbine in the East, A. candenensis, can be recognized by its red and yellow flowers. A number of columbines are native to the western part of the country. The two popular ones that grow in the Rocky Mountains are Colorado columbine, A. caerulea, with blue or white two-inch flowers, and golden columbine, A. chrysanthana, which grows to three feet tall and has stunning yellow, long-spurred flowers. Many hybrid columbines are also available from nurseries in a wide range of colors, with flowers from one-and-a-half to four inches wide and up to six inches long. Others in the buttercup family that are commonly grown in gardens include Anemone, Hepatica, Clematis, Trollius, Delphinium, and Aconitum.

The flowers of the European columbine differ from the wild columbine. Wild columbine has long-tubed, bright-red flowers, well adapted to early-arriving hummingbirds--the red color attracts them and the long floral tubes keep the nectar reserved for the birds' long tongues. The European columbine has blue flowers with short spurs. Europe has no hummingbirds; thus, the flower is adapted to bees, using their favorite color (blue) and short spurs that enable them to reach the nectar.

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The Columbine. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 04:28, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1707346.html