Not to be confused with : Pyrenean Columbine which is smaller and related to Columbine, but only found in very few locations in the UK.

Some similarities to : Monkshood in that the flower is deep blue and deeply convoluted in form.

Uniquely identifiable characteristics

Distinguishing Feature :

The flowers themselves have been eaten by native Americans as a very sweet condiment, but are reported to be poisonous if eaten in quantity.

Columbine inhabits woods, fens and damp limey grassland which is where the Whitbarrow sample was located above. It is much grown in gardens, and much more likely to be found growing in a garden than in the wild. Garden varieties are cultivated and can come in many differing colours, whereas native ones are mainly deep blue, but purple, pink and white varieties do exist in the wild. It readily escapes from gardens into the wild, but garden varieties generally have spurs that are straighter and not hooked over the top as much.

Despite being in the same family (Buttercup) as Monkshood and having a similarly convoluted flower which is also deep blue in colour, Columbine does not possess the aconitine poisons of Monkshood. It does, however, possess other poisons, cyanogenic glycosides being some. It also contains the glycosidic flavone IsoCytisoside which exhibits antimicrobial activity. Aquilegine is also a component.

The seeds and roots are especially poisonous, containing several cardiogenic toxins, which can cause heart palpitations and severe gastroenteritis if consumed. Four novel cyanogenic glycosides of the cycloartane type have been found in Columbine.

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