46 Nebraskaland • April 2024
MIXED BAG
Several of Nebraska's state parks are showcases for spring
wildfl owers and wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), also
called red columbine, is one of the most delicate and beautiful
of these early-bloomers growing in the parks.
This perennial is limited to our eastern- and northern-most
counties where it inhabits cool, moist deciduous woodlands
at the base of north- and east-facing slopes and ravine
bottoms. The best places to seek the wildfl ower are the
Missouri, lower Platte and Niobrara river bluff s and adjacent
hills, including those at Indian Cave, Platte River, Mahoney,
Ponca, Niobrara and Smith Falls state parks and Schramm
Park State Recreation Area.
The fl owers fi rst appear in late-April in the southeastern
counties and blooming continues through May in the
northern counties. The fl owers are unmistakably unique. Set
atop the one-to two-foot-tall plants, the bell-shaped fl owers,
up to two inches long, hang in loose, branching clusters. The
fl owers have fi ve petals. The lower half of each petal is yellow
and, combined, they form a column from which projects a
bundle of bright, yellow stamens, the pollen-forming parts of
the fl ower. The upper half of the petal consists of a long, red,
backward-pointing spur. Five fl aring, red, petal-like sepals
extend outward between the spurs.
The genus name Aquilegia comes from the Latin "Aquila,"
which means "eagle" and refers to the spurred petals
that resemble eagle talons. The upper end of the hollow
spurs secret nourishing nectar that attracts long-tongued
hummingbirds and hawkmoths that pollinate the fl owers.
Pollen-gathering bumblebees also pollinate the fl owers.
Native Americans prepared infusions from various parts
of wild columbine to treat heart trouble, kidney problems,
headaches, bladder problems and fever, and as a wash for
poison ivy. They also used the pulverized seeds as a love
charm and to detect bewitchment. Today, the plant is a
common ornamental in gardens, and here the sweet, nectar-
fi lled fl owers can be picked and eaten fresh or used to enhance
salads.
This spring, while hiking the woods in the above mentioned
parks, keep a sharp eye out for wild columbine and the many
other early-blooming wildfl owers that grace these sites. You
will be amazed by their beauty.
WILD COLUMBINE
By Gerry Steinauer, Botanist
Wild columbine's large and unique flowers will allow park
visitors to easily locate and identify this spring wildflower.
A Spring Wildfl ower of our State Parks
