Aquilegia Express: Red Columbines
Aquilegia triternata, barrel columbine
The barrel columbine occurs in eastern and southeastern Arizona and adjacent New Mexico.
In this close-up image of Aquilegia triternata, note the slightly spreading red sepals and the yellow blades of the petals. Photo by Charlie McDonald.
Range map of Aquilegia triternata. Courtesy of the USDA PLANTS Database.
Aquilegia triternata ranges in height from 15 to 60 cm. The foliage is green not glaucous and the leaves pilose above and glabrous to pilose below. The flowers are nodding. The sepals are red, 10 to 20 mm long and slightly spreading. The blades are yellow or yellow tinged with red, 7 to 8 mm long. The spurs are light red, to 25 mm long and straight. The stamens extend beyond the blades.
Aquilegia triternata is found growing in moist, open rocky places at mid elevations.
As with many species of columbines, this image displays Aquilegia triternata growing in a rock crevice where adequate moisture is to be found. Photo by Charlie McDonald.