This striking red and yellow flower is Western Columbine (Aquilegia formosa), a member of the Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae). It's also known as crimson columbine and Sitka columbine. Aquilegia is Latin for eagle and probably refers to the talon-like nectar sacs. Formosa means beautiful.
Western columbine is extremely attractive to hummingbirds and bees. The flower is basically upside down, and each of the five tubular petals end in swollen nectar sacs. The five red sepals flare out like wings. The yellow stamens protrude out of the flower. After pollination, the flowers turn up towards the sky.
The leaves are deeply pinnately-lobed.To learn more about western columbine, click here.
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