A. alpina (alpine).* fl. from 2in. to 3in. in diameter when expanded, deep blue or blue and white, on leafy, two to three-flowered stems; spurs straight, but somewhat incurved at the apex, one-half shorter than the petal limb. May. l. with segments deeply divided into linear lobes. h. 1ft. Alps of Switzerland, in shady humid places, 1731. Plant this on the rockery.
A. arctica (Arctic). A form of A. formosa.
A. atropurpurea (dark purple). fl. dark purple or bluish violet, about 1in. or 1½in. in diameter when expanded, two or three in a head; spurs straight, equal in length with the petals' limb; sepals about as long as the petals. May. l. petioled, biternate. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Siberia. Border plant.
A. aurea (golden).* A synonym of A. chrysantha flavescens.
A. Bertoloni (Bertoloni's).* fl. about 1in. across, blue-violet throughout; sepals about ¾in. long, rounded; petals about the same length; spurs very short, knobbed; stems two to four flowered. June and July. l. small, dark green, and glaucous. A very pretty little alpine, growing about 1ft. high. SYN. A. Reuteri.
FIG. 133. AQUILEGIA CÆRULEA.
A. cærulea (sky-blue).* fl. several on a stem, blue and white, sometimes more or less tinted with lilac or claret, rarely pure white, when expanded 2½in. to 3in. in diameter; spur very slender, nearly straight, green tipped, about 2in. long. April to July. l. large, biternate. h. 9in. to 15in. Rocky Mountains, 1864. A very lovely species for the border or base of the rockery. SYNS. A. leptoceras, A. macrantha. See Fig. 133.
A. c. alba (white).* fl. the same size and form as the type, white throughout. Rocky Mountains. A very rare and lovely variety; sometimes met with under the name of A. grandiflora.
A. c. hybrida (hybrid).* fl. blue and white, not so wide across as the type, but more numerous, and the plant has a much more vigorous habit. Of garden origin.
A. californica (Californian).* A form of A. formosa.
FIG. 134. AQUILEGIA CANADENSIS, showing Habit and Flower.
A. canadensis (Canadian).* fl. scarlet, mixed with yellow, less than 1in. in diameter; spur straight, longer than the limb; styles and stamens protruding; sepals acutish, a little longer than the petals' limb. April to June. l., segments three-parted, bluntish, and deeply toothed at the apex. h. 1ft. to 2ft. North America, 1640. Border or rockery; very pretty. See Fig. 134.
A. chrysantha (yellow-flowered).* fl., sepals primrose yellow, spreading horizontally in full expansion, nearly or quite 1in. long, tinted claret at the tip; limb of petals deeper yellow, not quite so long; spur straight, very slender, divergent, 1½in. to 2in. long; stems many-flowered. May to August. l. biternate. h. 3ft. to 4ft. California, 1873. One of the finest of all hardy perennials for the border.
A. c. flavescens (yellow). fl. of a uniform bright canary yellow, tinged with red; spur somewhat shorter than in A. canadensis, and slightly incurved. California, 1872. SYN. A. aurea.
FIG. 135. AQUILEGIA GLANDULOSA.
A. eximia (choice). Synonymous with A. formosa.
A. formosa (handsome).* fl., sepals bright red, usually less than 1in. long, with an obtuse green tip; limb of petals yellow, about half as long as the sepals; spurs ½in. to ¾in. long, slender in the lower half, nearly straight, distinctly knobbed at the tip; stems many-flowered. May to September. l. biternate. h. 2ft. to 4ft. North America. Border. The following are synonyms and varieties: A. arctica, A. californica, A. eximia, and A. f. truncata, revealing only trivial differences. There is a very beautiful hybrid known in gardens as A. californica hybrida, with the sepals and petals yellowish, or tinged with orange, while the long slender spurs are orange red; it is one of the handsomest of all. All the forms are very showy, and well worth growing.
A. fragrans (fragrant).* fl. white or pale claret purple, finely pubescent, very fragrant; sepals about 1½in. long, not reflexing, twice longer than the broad petals' limb; spur slender, slightly curved, knobbed at the top, same length as the petals; stems few-flowered. May to July. l. biternate. h. 1½ft. to 2ft. Himalayas, 1839. This requires a warm position.
A. glandulosa (glandular).* fl., sepals bright lilac blue, about 1½in. long, more than twice the length of the petals' limb; petals white; spur ¼in. long, or but little more, stout, much incurved; stems one to three-flowered. Spring. l. biternate. h. 8in. to 12in. Siberia, 1822. Extremely pretty. See Fig. 135.
A. g. jucunda (pleasant). fl. rather smaller. Very handsome little plants, freely hybridised, and it is necessary to keep raising fresh batches, as they are scarcely more than biennial.
A. glauca (glaucous). fl. white, tinted claret, fragrant; sepals 1in. long, not reflexing; limb of petals ¾in. long; spur straight, or a little curved, about ⅓in. long; stem three to four-flowered. June. l. biternate. h. 1ft. to 1½ft. Himalayas, 1839. Rather tender; plant in a warm dry position.
A. leptoceras (slender-horned). A synonym of A. cærulea.
A. macrantha (large-flowered). A synonym of A. cærulea.
A. olympica (Olympic).* fl. large, delicate mauve blue; petals white, rather shorter than the sepals; spur stout, short, obtuse. l. bi- or triternate, glaucous. h. 1½ft. 1880. Mount Olympus. See Fig. 136.
A. pyrenaica (Pyrenean).* fl., sepals bright lilac blue, about 1in. long, but not quite as much broad; limb of petals about ½in. long, and half as broad; spur slender, nearly straight, or rather incurved, nearly or quite ¾in. long, scarcely knobbed at the end; stem one to three-flowered, with small and little compound deep green leaves. Summer. h. 9in. to 12in. Pyrenees, 1818. Plant on the rockery.
A. Reuteri (Reuter's). Synonymous with A. Bertoloni.
A. sibirica (Siberian).* fl. bright lilac; sepals very blunt, 1in. or a little more in length, spreading or slightly reflexing when fully expanded; limb of petals sometimes white, about ½in. long; spur stout, much incurved, ½in. to ¾in. long; stems many-flowered, glabrous. Summer. l. biternate. h. 1ft. Siberia, 1806. Rockery species. Here are referred, by Mr. Baker, A. bicolor, A. Garnieriana, and A. speciosa. See Fig. 137.
A. thalictrifolia (Thalictrum-leaved). fl., sepals oblong, acute, lilac blue, about ½in. long; limb of petals about as long, and rounded at the top; spurs slender, not quite as long as the sepals; stems about three-flowered. Summer. l. with three-stalked segments cut into deep oblong lobes. h. 2ft. Tyrol, 1879. Entire plant clothed with fine pubescence.
A. viridiflora (green-flowered). fl., sepals oval-oblong, shorter than the petals; spurs straight and longer than the petals; stems two to three-flowered. h. 1ft. to 1½ft. Siberia, 1780. Border. Rather a pleasing and sweet-scented green-flowered species, but not very ornamental.
A. vulgaris (common). Common Columbine. fl. variously coloured; sepals ovate acute, about 1in. long, and half as broad; limb of the petal rarely exceeding ¾in. long, and half as much broad, rounded at the apex; spur much incurved, stout, knobbed at the end, as long as the petals; stems many-flowered. Spring and early summer. l. biternate. England, &c. There are numerous varieties of this very handsome species, both double and single-flowered.
A. v. alba (white). fl. pure white.
A. v. a. fl.-pl. Double white flowers.
A. v. cærulea nana fl.-pl. Very dwarf, with double deep blue flowers.
A. v. hybrida (hybrid). fl., sepals lilac purple, oblong-lanceolate, less than 1in. long; limb of the petals white, about ½in. long; spur scarcely incurved.
A. v. Vervæneana. This variety has pretty yellow mottled foliage.