Aquilegia longissima

Stems 25-90 cm. Basal leaves 3×-ternately compound, 20-45 cm, usually shorter than stems; leaflets green adaxially, to 20-40 mm, not viscid; primary petiolules 28-82 mm (leaflets not crowded), glabrous or sometimes pilose. Flowers erect; sepals perpendicular to floral axis, pale yellow, lanceolate, 25-40 × 6-11 mm, apex narrowly acute or acuminate; petals: spurs pale yellow, straight, ± parallel, 72-180 mm, very slender, evenly tapered from base, blades pale yellow, spatulate, 15-30 × 7-11 mm; stamens 20-33 mm. Follicles 24-31 mm; beak 16-26 mm.

Flowering summer (Jul-Sep). Near streams or in damp rocky places in canyons; 1370-1520 m; Ariz., Tex.; ne Mexico.

FNA 1997, Kearney and Peebles 1969

Duration: Perennial Nativity: Native Lifeform: Forb/Herb General: Herbaceous perennials, stems to 90 cm tall. Leaves: Basal leaves 3 times ternately compound, 20-45 cm long, usually shorter than the stems, leaflets green adaxially, to 20-40 mm, not viscid, not crowded, primary petioles 28-82 mm glabrous or sometimes pilose. Flowers: Yellow or yellow and cream, showy with long spurs, petal blades pale yellow, spatulate, 15-30 mm long and 7-11 mm wide, spurs pale yellow, straight and parallel, 72-180 mm long, very slender, evenly tapered from base, sepals perpendicular to floral axis, pale yellow, lanceolate, 25-40 mm long and 6-11 mm wide, apex narrowly acute or acuminate, stamens 20-33 mm, flowers erect. Fruits: Follicles 24-31 mm long, with 1 locule, beak 16-26 mm long. Seeds 1-2. Ecology: Found near streams or in damp rocky places in canyons, from 4,500-5,000 ft (1372-1524 m); flowering July-September. Distribution: Arizona, Texas; Mexico Notes: The large, showy yellow flowers with their long spurs are distinctive and help to identify the genus. Look for this species in Arizona in Cochise and Pima counties, in the Huachuca and Baboquivari mountains respectively. Ethnobotany: Unknown, but other species in the genus have uses; root smeared on people's legs to increase stamina before a race. Synonyms: None Editor: LCrumbacher2012