Aquilegia canadensis, the Canadian or Canada columbine, eastern red columbine, or wild columbine, is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. It is an herbaceous perennial native to woodland and rocky slopes in eastern North America, prized for its red and yellow flowers. It readily hybridizes with other species in the genus Aquilegia.

Description

The plant is 15 - 90 cm tall. The fern-like leaves are lobed and grouped in threes, growing from the base and off the flowering stems. The flowers are 1-2 in long and have yellow petals with a red spur and red sepals. They appear in late spring (usually in May and June), nodding on stems above the leaves. The round end of the spur contains nectar, which is sought by butterflies and hummingbirds. The caterpillars of columbine duskywing (Erynnis lucilius) feed on the leaves.

Cultivation

Aquilegia canadensis is a highly decorative plant, valued for its attractive foliage and showy flowers. For this reason it is widely grown outside its native region, in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The plant is easily propagated from seed, and blooms the second year from sowing. It is relatively long lived in the garden. It grows well in shade, and in sun with proper moisture. The cultivar "Little Lanterns" only grows to around 25 cm (10 in). It is also thought to have higher resistance to leaf miner.

Other uses

Native North American tribes used various parts of red columbine in herbal remedies for ailments such as headache, sore throat, fever, rash caused by poison ivy, stomatitis, kidney and urinary problems, and heart problems. Native American men also rubbed crushed seeds on their hands as a love charm.

Toxicity

Canada columbine contains a cyanogenic glycoside, which releases poisonous hydrogen cyanide when the plant is damaged.

Distribution

Aquilegia canadensis is found across the United States (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NM, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV) and Canada (MB, NB, ON, QC, SK, BC).

Wetland indicator status

Wetland is an extremely valuable but limited resource in the USA. Wetland indicator status is used to determine which native plant species can provide information about the presence of wetland in a given area. Essentially, if a plant thrives in a particular area, it means there is a greater likelihood of wetland there. Aquilegia canadensis is one such species.

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