Aquilegia vulgaris

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A European member of the plant family Ranunculaceae; it is reputed to be poisonous because of its high content of cyanogenetic glycosides. Called also columbine, granny bonnets.

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Aquilegia vulgaris

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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.

Contents

Description

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.

Cultivation

Cultivars include the Barlow series (Nora Barlow, Black Barlow, Rose Barlow, Christa Barlow), Pretty Bonnets. Seeds may be sold as mixtures.

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]

Toxicity

The plant is a member of the poisonous Ranunculus family. The dried crushed seeds made into a dusting powder will kill lice very effectively. It is possible that inhaling the crushed seeds dust or otherwise absorbing oils from them may cause poisoning or at minimum exhibit symptoms of poisoning.

Gallery

References

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


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