Aquilegia elegantissima

[David Nicholson]

I'm growing the above from seed from the 2012/13 SRGC Exchange, No. 384. As it looks as though the plant is somewhat larger than the space I've given it I searched for some further information. It's not included in Bob Nold's  "Columbines" but there is a A. elegatea and nor is A. elegantissima listed in The Plant List, although a Google search turned up a bit of information.

Can anyone give further information please?

[ChrisB]

David, I've grown this from seed in the past, not sure whether it's a valid name or not, but it has very long Spurs and is pale yellow in colour. I think I saw it on the cover of the RHS Garden magazine long ago too. Very nice plant. Mine grew to about three ft in height but not too wide around its girth.

[David Nicholson]

Thanks Chris. I've just taken a shot of mine (below). It's in bud but they don't look as though they will be yellow. Given their propensity to hybridise I suppose it could be anything?

By the way, the little plant towards the bottom left is Cassiope 'Edinburgh' I've had for about five years now with nary a flower. I talked to Barry Starling, who showed a wonderful pot-full of Cassiope at the South West AGS Show last year, and he advised me to move it from a shady place I had it in to one in full sun. That did the trick.

[Maggi Young]

I have no idea why a name that is not official should be used in the seedlist. 

[David Nicholson]

I have no idea why a name that is not official should be used in the seedlist. 

I wondered that too Maggi. I've checked out the last two AGS Lists and it isn't listed in either. I wonder if Diane has heard of it, I'll drop her line.

[annew]

I was about to say I'd grown the same plant as Chris, but when I looked it up, it is A. longissima that fits Chris's description. There is an A elegantissima listed n Google, but not in the  book 'Columbines' by Robert Nold. The nearest he has is A. elegantula, which is a red and yellow one.

[ChrisB]

Know what, you are right Anne.  It was longissima, not elegantissima. Mea culpa!  But I've also grown one called A. chrysantha which looked pretty much the same.  Sorry David et al.

[David Nicholson]

Not the best picture in the world but here's a pic of some of the open buds on the plant I grew from SRGC Exchange seed under the name of Aquilegia elegantissima (which doesn't seem to exist!). Looks to me about the same as any garden pollinated Aquilegia hybrid?

[Maggi Young]

I cannot understand why an illegitimate name would be allowed into the seedlist.

 The two Japanese sites quoted below (using google translate  ) do have photos of what they are calling A. elegantissima:
http://ptech.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2006/05/post_c4fc.html
Elegant columbine
Aquilegia elegantissima

Distance of the long type of elegant columbine. Aquilegia-Elegante Text Shima (Aquilegia elegantissima: Ranunculaceae Aquilegia) and I will say.
Stature is about 30cm, the size of the flowers 2cm, in the columbine of medium-sized of about 5cm in length, the whole has a reddish purple. Corolla part began to bloom and has a cream-colored, will gradually become the same purple as the distance, but the purple and cream assortment is exquisite. Today above, it is something which under took yesterday, I do not think the same flower.

We do not know details about this columbine. It is not also described in the database of NARGS.
It is the thing which grew from seeds obtained from B & T World Seeds.

 http://homepage2.nifty.com/ptech/flora/aquilegia/aquilegiaElegantissima.html
  Aquilegia elegantissima

Details unknown. Stature is about 30cm, is a two-color bloom the size of the flowers 2cm, enter the white corolla part in the columbine of medium-sized of about 5cm length. Is as elegant flower name. Seems B & T World Seeds have been selling under this name - they may be the original source.

Flowering season: before the spring and summer
Stature: flowering season 30 ~ 45cm
20cm below there is no flower
Photo: April 20, 2005

 Only thing they have in common with your plants is the height, I think?
Seems

[TheOnionMan]

Aquilegia "elegantissima" is a name corruption, no such published name.  Regrettably it will take on an existence of its own in horticulture, when businesses like B & T World Seeds perpetuate this plant phantasm.

On a similar thought, we once had discussion with Diane Clement about similar cases of plant "species" that only exist on the internet as name corruptions, would be fun to compile such a list of plant phantasms.

[David Nicholson]

Thanks Maggi and Mark, I'll probably let it flower and then dump it.