Herb latin name: Aquilegia karelinii


Synonyms: Aquilegia karelini


Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)



Edible parts of Aquilegia karelinii:

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.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Perennial


Height:
75 cm
(2 feet)

Habitat of the herb:

Damp ravines and on mountain slopes usually covered with spruce, juniper and broad-leaved trees, meadows with tall vegetation in the forest and alpine zones, 900 - 3600 metres.

Other uses of Aquilegia karelinii:

The seed is used to rid the hair of lice. Sap from flowers, slightly diluted with water, is used as an ink.

Propagation of the herb:

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 Aquilegia karelinii:

Damp ravines and on mountain slopes usually covered with spruce, juniper and broad-leaved trees, meadows with tall vegetation in the forest and alpine zones, 900 - 3600 metres.

Medicinal use of the herb:

None known

Known hazards of Aquilegia karelinii:

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.