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Van Houtte'S Columbine (Aquilegia eximia)

Description

Aquilegia eximia-is a species of-columbine-known by the common names-serpentine columbine-or-Van Houtte's columbine. It is-endemic-to-California, where it grows in the moist forests of the-Coast Ranges. This is a perennial herb growing from a thick-caudex-and varying in height, reaching a maximum height near 1.5 meters. The lower leaves are divided into large, leaflike segments up to 4 or 5 centimeters long and a lobed oval in shape. Leaves farther up the stem are not segmented but may be deeply lobed. The-inflorescence-bears a large, nodding columbine flower. Each flower has five bright red to orange-red flat-sepals-up to nearly 3 centimeters long, and five petals which are hollow spurs up to 4 centimeters long, bright orange-red on the outer surface and lighter orange to yellow inside. The mouth of each hollow petal tube is up to a centimeter wide. The sepals and petals are generally reflexed back toward the stem and the five-pistils-and many thin-stamens-extend forward from the center of the flower.

Taxonomic tree

  • Domain: Eukarya

    • Kingdom: Plantae

      • Phylum: Magnoliophyta

        • Class: Magnoliopsida

          • Order: Ranunculales

            • Family: Ranunculaceae

              • Genus: Aquilegia