Type of Flower
Aquilegia: Aquilegia (common names: Granny's Bonnet or Columbine) is a genus of nigh 60-70 species of perennial plants that are constitute inward meadows, woodlands, in addition to at higher altitudes throughout the Northern Hemisphere, known for the spurred petals of their flowers. The genus cite Aquilegia is derived from the Latin give-and-take for eagle (aquila), because the shape of the blossom petals, which are said to resemble an eagle's claw. The mutual cite "columbine" comes from the Latin for "dove", due to the resemblance of the inverted blossom to 5 doves clustered together.
The Colorado Blue Columbine (A. caerulea) is the official nation blossom of Colorado.
The Colorado Blue Columbine (A. caerulea) is the official nation blossom of Colorado.
Columbines are closely related to plants inward the genera Actaea (baneberries) in addition to Aconitum (wolfsbanes/monkshoods), which similar Aquilegia make cardiogenic toxins.
They are used every bit nutrient plants past times only about Lepidoptera (butterfly in addition to moth) caterpillars. These are mainly of noctuid moths – noted for feeding on many poisonous plants without impairment – such every bit Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae), Dot Moth (Melanchra persicariae) in addition to Mouse Moth (Amphipyra tragopoginis). The Engrailed (Ectropis crepuscularia), a geometer moth, every bit good uses columbine every bit a larval foodplant.
Aquilegia is a hardy perennial, which propagates past times seed. It volition grow to a tiptop of fifteen to xx inches. It volition grow inward total sun; however, it prefers growing inward partial shade in addition to good drained soil, in addition to is able to tolerate average soils in addition to dry out soil conditions. Columbine is rated at hardiness zone three inward the USA in addition to thus does non require mulching or protection inward the winter.
Large numbers of hybrids are available for the garden, since the British A. vulgaris was joined past times other European in addition to North American varieties. Aquilegia species are real interfertile, in addition to volition self-sow. Some varieties are short-lived in addition to thus are meliorate treated every bit biennials.
The flowers of diverse species of columbine were consumed inward moderation past times Native Americans every bit a condiment amongst other fresh greens, in addition to are reported to live on real sweet, in addition to rubber if consumed inward small-scale quantities. The plant's seeds in addition to roots are highly poisonous however, in addition to comprise cardiogenic toxins which elbow grease both severe gastroenteritis in addition to pump palpitations if consumed every bit food. Native Americans used real small-scale amounts of Aquilegia source every bit a handling for ulcers.[citation needed] However, the medical purpose of this works life is meliorate avoided due to its high toxicity; columbine poisonings may live on fatal.
The shrewd toxicity examination inward mice showed that ethanol extract in addition to the master copy flavonoid chemical compound isocytisoside from the leaves in addition to stems of Aquilegia vulgaris tin live on classified every bit nontoxic since a dose of 3000 mg/kg did non elbow grease mortality inward mice.
Columbines bring been of import inward the study of evolution. It was constitute that Sierra Columbine (A. pubescens) in addition to Crimson Columbine (A. formosa) each bring adapted specifically to a pollinator. Bees in addition to hummingbirds are the visitors to A. formosa, piece hawkmoths would only view A. pubescens when given a choice. Such a "pollination syndrome", beingness due to blossom color in addition to orientation controlled past times their genetics, ensures reproductive isolation in addition to tin live on a elbow grease of speciation.
Aquilegia petals present an enormous hit of petal spur length multifariousness ranging from a centimeter to the fifteen cm spurs of Aquilegia longissima. Selection from pollinator shifts is suggested to bring driven these changes inward nectar spur length.[18] Interestingly, it was shown that this amazing spur length multifariousness is achieved exclusively through changing jail cellular telephone shape, non jail cellular telephone let on or jail cellular telephone size. This suggests that a uncomplicated microscopic alter tin effect inward a dramatic evolutionarily relevant morphological change.