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A QJJI L E G I A vulgaris,
. Common Columbime.
/ o(o
P O L Y A N D R I A Pentagynia.
Gen. Char. Cal. none. Petals 5 . NeCaries 3, hornfhapedj
alternate with the petals. Capfules 5, dif-
tindt.
Spec. Char. Nedtaries equal to the petals; their horns
incurved. Leaves and Item fmooth.
Syn. Aquilegia vulgaris. Linn. Sp. PI. 752. - IJudf.
F I An. 235. With. Bot. Arr. 562. Iielb. Cant. 207.
Sibth. Ox. 169.
A. flore fimplici. Raii Syn. 2.73.
C i O L U M B I N E S in a wild ftate are found in woods,
thickets, and paftures in feveral parts of England. They are
not rare in Derbyfhire and Weftmoreland. Mr. Wagftaffe of
Norwich fent us a fpecimen'from that neighbourhood, where,
efpecially about the meadows at St. Faith’s Newton, the plant
grows perfectly wild, flowering in June. From its frequency
in gardens, it fometimes occurs (of various forms and colours)
about dunghills, but is feldom permanent in fuch places.
The root is perennial. Stem not very leafy, branched, each
branch bearing a folitary drooping flower. Leaves moftly radical,
on very long foot-ftalks, twice ternate, obtufely lobed,
glaucous beneath, fmooth; thofe on the Item nearly feflile, and
more Ample, the uppermoft confifting of 3, entire and acute
leaflets. Sometimes the Item bears only fuch.- The ftem is
purplilh and glaucous. Flowers purple, rarely rofe-coloured.
Germens invefted with a plaited lacerated membrane.
In mountainous fituations what the plant lofes in luxuriance
it gains in neatnefs and elegance of foliage, and then the nectaries
are fometimes found rather lefs curved. Hence Mr.
Hudfon thought he had difcovered A. alpina in Weftmoreland ;
but on feeing Dr. Smith’s fpecimens of the true Alpine Columbine
from Mount Cenis, he allowed it to be quite diftindt from
any thing he had obferved of Britifli growth. Our Flora therefore
can properly boaft but one fpecies of this genus.