Western Red Columbine

aquilegia elegantula

The Western Red Columbine (Aquilegia elegantula) is a captivating perennial wildflower native to the high-elevation slopes and moist coniferous forests of the southern Rocky Mountains. Known for its elegant, nodding blossoms, this species plays a vital role in its montane ecosystem by providing early-to-midsummer nectar for native pollinators, especially migrating hummingbirds. Its intricate, spurred petals and delicate, divided foliage make it a favored sight for hikers exploring subalpine trails. This resilient plant thrives in partial shade and moist, gravelly soils, adding a splash of vibrant color to shaded canyons and rocky creeksides.

Lebensraum: Found in damp, rocky soils of coniferous forests, mountain canyons, and alpine meadows.

Aussehen

This slender wildflower grows up to sixty centimeters tall, characterized by nodding, pendant blooms featuring five long, straight red spurs pointing upwards and yellow petals forming an inner tube around protruding yellow stamens. The sepals are also bright red, contrasting beautifully with the yellow inner flower. Its delicate, bi- or tri-lobed compound leaves are a soft blue-green color and grow mainly near the base of the stem.

ReichPlantaeStammTracheophytaKlasseMagnoliopsidaOrdnungRanunculalesFamilieRanunculaceaeGattungAquilegia

Western Red Columbine

Kategorie

Pflanzen

Seltenheit

Common

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Snaps

Mach den ersten Snap!

Interessante Fakten

Its specific epithet, 'elegantula', is Latin for 'fine' or 'quite elegant', referencing its delicate, beautiful posture.

The genus name Aquilegia comes from the Latin word for eagle, referring to the spur petals that resemble an eagle's talons.

To prevent self-pollination, the plant's pollen-producing anthers mature and shed their pollen before the female stigma becomes receptive.

Besondere Fähigkeiten

Features exceptionally deep nectar spurs that physically restrict access to all but long-tongued pollinators like hummingbirds, preventing nectar theft by short-tongued insects.

Produces cyanogenic glycosides within its tissues to discourage grazing by deer, rabbits, and other mountain herbivores.

Exhibits long, downward-protruding stamens that brush pollen onto the foreheads of hummingbirds while they feed, ensuring highly efficient cross-pollination.

Maße und Details

Länge: 10-60 cm
Lebenserwartung: 3-10 Jahre

Ernährung und Fütterung

As an autotrophic plant, it produces its own energy via photosynthesis, using sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and essential nutrients absorbed through its root system.

Hauptnahrung

Sunlight
Water
Carbon dioxide
Nitrogen
Phosphorus

Ökologische Zusammenhänge

mutualism

Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Selasphorus platycercus

Feeds on nectar and acts as the primary pollinator for the flowers.

parasite

Columbine Leafminer

Phytomyza aquilegiae

Larvae mine tunnels through the leaves, feeding on internal plant tissue.

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Sicherheit

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

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Häufig gestellte Fragen

Wie identifiziert man Western Red Columbine?

Der einfachste Weg, Western Red Columbine zu bestimmen, ist die Verwendung der Naturführer-App Snappit.

Was ist der/die/das länge von Western Red Columbine?

10-60 cm

Was ist der/die/das lebenserwartung von Western Red Columbine?

3-10 Jahre

Was frisst Western Red Columbine?

As an autotrophic plant, it produces its own energy via photosynthesis, using sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and essential nutrients absorbed through its root system.

Wo findet man Western Red Columbine normalerweise?

Found in damp, rocky soils of coniferous forests, mountain canyons, and alpine meadows.