Aquilegia Express: Yellow Columbines
Aquilegia micrantha, Mancos columbine
Mancos columbine occurs in southeastern Utah, southwestern Colorado, and extreme northern Arizona.
As displayed with this and the following images, observe the array of color forms encountered with this species. Photo by Al Schneider.
Range map of Aquilegia micrantha. Courtesy of Flora of North America.
Aquilegia micrantha ranges in height from 30 to 60 cm. The foliage is green not glaucous and the leaves are glandular to glandular pubescent. The flowers are erect or nodding. The sepals are white, cream, blue, or pink, 8 to 20 mm long and spreading. The blades are white or cream, 6 to 10 mm long. The spurs are white or colored like the sepals, 15 to 30 mm long, and straight with the tips of the spurs curving inward. The stamens extend beyond the blades.
Aquilegia micrantha is found growing in hanging gardens in canyons.
Aquilegia micrantha. Photo by Al Schneider.
Aquilegia micrantha. Photo by Al Schneider.
Aquilegia micrantha. Photo by Al Schneider.
An excellent example of Mancos columbines growing in hanging gardens. Photo by Al Schneider.