Small-flower Columbine
Aquilegia brevistyla
The genus name 'Aquilegia' is derived from the Latin word for eagle, referring to the nectar spurs that resemble an eagle's talons.
- Scientific name
- Aquilegia brevistyla
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Ranunculales › Ranunculaceae › Aquilegia
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Boreal and subarctic forests, rocky slopes, and riverbanks.
- Diet
- Photosynthetic (Sunlight, Water, Carbon Dioxide).
- Range
- Alaska, Yukon, Alberta, Ontario, Montana, South Dakota
- Size
- 20 to 80 centimeters tall
- Lifespan
- 3-5 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation and climate-driven shifts in subarctic moisture levels.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to observe and touch. Do not ingest any part of the plant, as it contains cyanogenic glycosides which are toxic to humans and pets. If skin irritation occurs, wash the area with soap and water; if ingested, seek medical attention immediately.
Aquilegia brevistyla is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family known by the common name smallflower columbine . It is native to northern North America, where it has a disjunct distribution. Most of its range extends from Alaska through much of Canada, and it also occurs in a few areas in the contiguous United States, such as the Black Hills of South Dakota and central Montana. It is most common in eastern Alaska, Yukon, the...
Photo: Syd Cannings, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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