From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Aquilegia vulgaris
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Ranunculales
Family:	Ranunculaceae
Genus:	Aquilegia
Species:	A. vulgaris
Binomial name
Aquilegia vulgaris L.

Aquilegia vulgaris (European Columbine, Common Columbine or Granny's Nightcap) is a species of columbine native to Europe. It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 1.2 m tall, with branched, thinly hairy stems. The leaves are pinnate, with the basal leaflets themselves trifoliate.

Folklore

In traditional herbalism columbine was considered sacred to Venus; carrying a posy of it was said arouse the affections of a loved one. Nicholas Culpeper recommended it to ease the pains of childbirth. In modern herbal medicine it is used as an astringent and diuretic.^[1]

Plants growing in natural habitat

Close-up of flowers

Various parts of the plant have been used in the past to cure diarrhoea, to promote perspiration to help in childbirth and to alleviate rheumatic pains; but this plant is a member of the all-poisonous Ranunculus family, and it should not be experimented with. However, dried crushed seeds, made into a dusting powder, will kill lice very effectively. (The Wild Garden by Lys De Bray)

References

1. ^ Howard, Michael. Traditional Herbal Remedies (Century, 1987), p.124

From Wikispecies

Aquilegia vulgaris

Taxonavigation

Classification System: APG II (down to family level)

Main Page
Cladus: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiospermae
Cladus: Eudicots
Ordo: Unassigned Eudicots
Ordo: Ranunculales
Familia: Ranunculaceae
Subfamilia: Isopyroideae
Tribus: Isopyreae
Subtribus: Isopyrineae
Genus: Aquilegia
Species: Aquilegia vulgaris

Name

Aquilegia vulgaris L.

References

• USDA, NRCS. 2006. The PLANTS Database, 6 March 2006 (http://plants.usda.gov).

Vernacular names

For more multimedia, look at Aquilegia vulgaris on Wikimedia Commons.