Aquilegia Express: Yellow Columbines
Aquilegia pubescens, Sierra columbine
The Sierra columbine is endemic to the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains.
As displayed with this and the following images, white erect flowers are characteristic of columbines that are pollinated by hawk moths. Photo by John O’Neill.
Aquilegia pubescens ranges in height from 20 to 50 cm. The foliage is green not glaucous, the stems are glandular pubescent and the leaves are glabrous to sometimes pilose. The flowers are erect. The sepals are cream to yellow or pink, 15 to 25 mm long, and perpendicular. The blades are cream to yellow, 8 to 17 mm long. The spurs are cream, yellow, or pink, 25 to 40 mm long and straight to slightly divergent. The stamens extend beyond the blades.
Aquilegia pubescens. Photo by John O’Neill.
Aquilegia pubescens occurs in high elevation alpine habitats where moisture is available.