| Aquilegia olympica | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Flower of Aquilegia olympica in the Caucasus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Ranunculaceae |
| Genus: | Aquilegia |
| Species: | A. olympica |
| Binomial name | |
| Aquilegia olympica | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
Aquilegia olympica is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to Turkey, Iran, and the Caucasus. [1] [2]
Aquilegia olympica grows to 30–60 cm (12–24 in) tall. The basal leaves are biternate in form, smooth above and covered with fine or woolly hairs underneath. The leaflets have rounded teeth along their edges. The flowers have blue-violet sepals measuring 18–35 mm (0.71–1.38 in), and white petals ending in a short, somewhat hooked nectar spur. [3]
The species is part of, and gives its name to, the Aquilegia olympica aggregate, together with Aquilegia champagnatii , Aquilegia dinarica , and Aquilegia ottonis . This aggregate is characterised by leafy and glandular stems, often branched inflorescences, medium or large nodding and often bicoloured flowers with hooked spurs. [3]
Aquilegia olympica is native to northern Turkey, northern Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and the North Caucasus. [2] Unlike the other species in the Aquilegia olympica aggregate, which prefer rocky habitats, this species grows in damp meadows and spruce forests. [3]
Aquilegia olympica flowers in late spring and early summer. [4] The larvae of the columbine sawfly Pristiphora rufipes have been recorded feeding on the plant. [5]
As of November 2024 [update] , the species has not been assessed for the IUCN Red List. [6]
A decoction of Aquilegia olympica was traditionally used in eastern Turkey as a diuretic. [7]
The early French printer Philippe Pigouchet used the flowers of Aquilegia olympica as a common motif in border illustrations in his Book of Hours of 1500. [8]
Aquilegia is a genus of about 130 species of perennial plants that are found in meadows, woodlands, and at higher elevations throughout the Northern Hemisphere, known for the spurred petals of their flowers.
Aquilegia coerulea, the Colorado columbine, Rocky Mountain columbine, or blue columbine, is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native to the Rocky Mountains and some of the surrounding states of the western United States. It is the state flower of Colorado. The Latin specific name coerulea means "sky blue".
Aquilegia vulgaris is a species of columbine native to Europe with common names that include: European columbine, common columbine, granny's nightcap, and granny's bonnet. It is a flowering herbaceous perennial plant growing to 1.2 m tall, with branched, thinly hairy stems. The leaves are biternate; each leaf has three groups of three leaflets. The flowers, in various shades of purple, blue, pink and white, are pendent or horizontal with strongly hooked spurs, and appear in early summer.
Aquilegia barbaricina, common name Barbaricina columbine, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae. It is endemic to Italy, occurring only on the island of Sardinia.
Aquilegia nuragica, commonly called Nuragica columbine, is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae. It is endemic to Italy, in a single canyon in the Supramonte mountain range on the island of Sardinia.
Aquilegia eximia, the serpentine columbine or Van Houtte's columbine, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to California.
Aquilegia flavescens, the yellow columbine, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to the Rocky Mountains of the United States and Canada.
Aquilegia bertolonii, common name Bertoloni columbine or Bertoloni's columbine, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to Italy, southern France, and Slovenia.
Aquilegia longissima, the long-spur columbine or long-spurred columbine, is a rare perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae that is native to northern Mexico, Texas, and Arizona.
Aquilegia fragrans, the fragrant columbine or sweet-scented columbine, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to the Western Himalayas.
Aquilegia atrata, the dark columbine, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to the Alps and Apennine Mountains.
Aquilegia alpina, the alpine columbine or breath of God, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to the western and central Alps.
Aquilegia ottonis is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to Greece.
Aquilegia ecalcarata, the spurless columbine or false columbine, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to central China.
Aquilegia sibirica, the Siberian columbine, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae native to the north-central Asian regions of Siberia, northern Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Xinjiang. A hardy perennial plant, it prefers temperate environments. The Siberian columbine can be between 1 foot (0.30 m) and 2 feet (0.61 m) tall with flowers that are lilac-blue and white in color.
Aquilegia aurea is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae native to Bulgaria and small areas of North Macedonia and Greece.
Aquilegia bernardii, common name Bernard's columbine, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to Corsica.
Aquilegia champagnatii is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to Italy.
Aquilegia glandulosa, the Altai columbine or Siberian columbine, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to northern and central Asia.
Aquilegia incurvata, or the Qinling columbine (秦岭耧斗菜), is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to the Qinling mountain range in China.
Media related to Aquilegia olympica at Wikimedia Commons