
medicinal herbs
Columbine
Aquilegia flavescens

Herb: Columbine
Latin name: Aquilegia flavescens
Synonyms: Aquilegia canadensis flavescens
Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)
Medicinal use of Columbine:
Antispasmodic, diaphoretic, parasiticide, resolvent, salve.Description of the plant:

Plant:
Perennial
Height:
75 cm(2 feet)

Flowering:
May toJune
Habitat of the herb:
Moist mountain meadows to alpine slopes.Edible parts of Columbine:
Flowers - raw. Rich in nectar, they are sweet and delightful, they make a very attractive addition to mixed salads and can also be used as a thirst-quenching munch in the garden.Other uses of the herb:
The seed is used as a parasiticide to rid the hair of lice.Propagation of Columbine:
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. The seed can be slow to germinate. Stored seed can be sown in late winter in a cold frame. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer. Division in spring.Cultivation of the herb:
Moist mountain meadows to alpine slopes.Known hazards of Aquilegia flavescens:
Although no records of toxicity have been seen for this species, it belongs to a family that contains a number of mildly toxic species. It is therefore wise to exercise some caution. The flowers are probably perfectly safe to eat.Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.