About Aquilegia viridiflora Pall.
Taxonomic Identity
Aquilegia viridiflora Pall. is a herbaceous perennial plant.
Plant Height and Stem Characteristics
It reaches 15 to 50 cm (5.9 to 19.7 in) in height, with stems that are hairy or glandular, and often branch near the top.
Basal Leaf Features
It has a small number of basal leaves: these are biternate, mostly smooth, and borne on stalks up to 18 cm (7.1 in) long.
Inflorescence Size and Count
This species produces 3 to 7 nodding flowers that measure 1.5–2 cm (0.6–0.8 in) across.
Flower Color Varieties
Flowers are either yellowish-green (in the variety viridiflora) or dark purple (in the variety atropurpurea).
Sepal and Petal Length
The sepals and petals reach 1.5 cm (0.6 in) or less in length.
Nectar Spur Features
Petals have straight or slightly incurved nectar spurs that measure 1.2 to 1.8 cm (0.5 to 0.7 in) long.
Native Distribution
Aquilegia viridiflora is native to Japan, Mongolia, Russia (southern Siberia regions Buryatia, Tuva, and Zabaykalsky Krai, plus Amur Oblast in the Russian Far East), and multiple northern Chinese provinces: Gansu, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Hubei, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, eastern Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, and Shanxi.
Habitat and Altitude Range
It grows in forests, grassy slopes, damp areas, and beside streams, at altitudes from 200 to 2,400 m (660 to 7,870 ft).
Flowering Period and Pollinator
It flowers from May to July, and is pollinated by early spring bees belonging to the genus Anthophora.
Cultivation Use
It is cultivated as an ornamental plant.
