Aquilegia Saximontana

Facts about Aquilegia saximontana, also referred to by various names – rocky mountain columbine, dwarf blue columbine, and alpine dwarf columbine or simply as alpine columbine, is a plant that grows perennially. A perennial plant grows every season of the year. It hails from the buttercup family, also known as a Ranunculacea, a type of plant type flower in almost 60 different genera scattered globally. Read on for more.

The genus identifier, Aquilegia, borrows its origin from the Latin word Aquila. Aquila in Latin means eagle. In this setting, Aquila basically designates that the Aquilegia saximontana has protruding petals which can be directly assimilated with eagle talons.

When classified scientifically Aquilegia saximontana , it falls under plantae kingdom, tracheobionyta subkingdom, spermatophyta superdividision, magnollophyta division, magnoliospida class, magnoliidae subclass, ranunculales order, ranunculanea family, aquilegia genus and aquilegia saximontana species, Aquilegia saximontana is a dicot with a USDA symbol of AQSA.

Usually, Aquilegia saximontana blooms in the months of July and August in white and lavender colors bearing large flowers. A fully-matured aquilegia saximontana endures a total height of between 5cm- 25cm with short stems.

The Aquilegia Saximontana plant is dominant in the alpine and sub-alpine lands with an altitude of 3,300m-4,000m situated in the Rocky Mountains. It is an indigenous plant that is native to the Rocky Mountains which are in Colorado, USA.

There has been always a tendency of confusing Aquilegia saximontana with Aquilegia caerulea due to their nomenclature similarity. Aquilegia caerulea can be contrasted with Aquilegia saximontana by simply comparing the extent of the spike-shaped exteriors of the flower.

There has been looming disarray as to which of the two flowers belong to the recognized flower of the state of Colorado, being that both Aquilegia saximontana and Aquilegia caerulea are all columbine species. From a historical perspective, Aquilegia saximontana may seem to have been the authentic flower of the state of Colorado. The original preserved documents indicated that the state flower was lavender and white in colour, which might have been used to refer to aquilegia saximontana. However, Aquilegia caerulea is the official flower of the state as we speak now.

Appearance of Aquilegia Saximontana

In appearance, aquilegia saximontana has glabrous foliage with leaves being green on the top and glaucous underneath. The flowers are of the nodding type with blue sepals of approximate length of 10mm-12mm. The leaf blades are cream in colour, 7 to 8mm long.

On a much better look, a keen observer will notice that Aquilegia saximontana has hooked kind of spurs, a much rare phenomenon among the columbine species especially those found in North America. The spurs are blue and approximately 3 to 9 mm long. Its stamens do not go beyond the blades.

The Aquilegia Saximontana doesn’t tolerate too much wetness that is experienced during the winter season, though it can bear a little shade at times. The plant grows where there is sufficient moisture.

Collecting seed of Aquilegia Saximontana

The seed heads are allowed to dry on plants after which seeds are removed from their pods for successful storage. Its seeds are dangerously poisonous and should not be ingested.