Aquilegia

views updated May 23 2018

Aquilegia (columbines; family Ranunculaceae) A genus of poisonous, perennial herbs, which are usually erect, with alternate, 2 or 3 times ternate, compound leaves. The flowers are showy, regular, pentamerous, with petaloid sepals and long-spurred petals, and many free stamens and carpels which produce several-seeded follicles in fruit. Several species and hybrids are cultivated for their flowers. There are about 70 species, found mostly in the northern temperate zone.

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