COLUMBINE, a genus of the pentagynia order, belonging to the polyandra class of plants.

Species. 1. The vulgaris or wild columbine, with blue flowers, is found growing wild in some woods of England. 2. The alpina, with long oval flowers, grows naturally near Ingleborough-hill in Yorkshire. The flowers are much larger than those of the garden columbine. 3. The inversa, or garden columbine. Of this there are great varieties, not only in the colour and fullness of their flowers, but also in their form. These are commonly called rose columbines; the colours are chestnut, blue, red, and white, and some are finely variegated with two colours. There are others with sharp-pointed petals in form of a star, and of these there are single and double flowers of the same colours with the former. 4. The canadensis, or Canada columbine, flowers almost a month before the other sorts, and therefore is preferred in the gardens of the curious, though not at all remarkable for its beauty. There is a variety of this with taller flower-stems.

Culture. These plants are all propagated by sowing the seeds, or parting the old roots; but the former method is chiefly practised, for the old roots are very apt to degenerate. The seeds should be sown in a nursery-bed in August or September; for those which are kept till the spring seldom grow well, or at least remain in the ground a whole year. The spring following the plants will appear above ground, and should be kept clear of weeds; and if the season proves dry, they must be watered. In the middle or latter end of May, they will be strong enough to transplant; for which purpose, some beds of good undugged earth should be prepared, planting them therein at eight or nine inches distance from each other. In the following autumn, by which time the plants will have acquired strength enough to flower the year following, the roots should be carefully taken up and planted in the borders of the flower-garden: but where their roots are designed to be preserved in perfection, all the flower-stalks must be cut off as soon as the flowers are past. In order to keep up a succession of good flowers, fresh seeds should be sown every year; and it will likewise be advantageous to exchange the seeds with some brought from a distant place.

Medicinal Uses. Columbine has been looked upon as aperient; and was formerly in great esteem among the common people for throwing out the small-pox and measles. A distilled water, medicated vinegar, and conserve, were prepared from the flowers; but they have long given place to medicines of greater efficacy.