Colorado Blue Columbine-Aquilegia coerula

This striking flower is Colorado Blue Columbine (Aquilegia coerula), a member of the Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae). The flower shape is similar to Western Columbine (Aquilegia formosa), but the size of the flower is much larger and the color is not red, but rather white or blue or most frequently, a mixture of the two. 

Part of the reason the flower appears so large is that the sepals (the part underneath the flowers) are also brightly colored and protruding.

For more information about the state flower of Colorado, the Colorado blue columbine, click here.