Montane, subalpine. Woodlands, rocks. Spring, summer.
Shearer Creek Trail, May 17, 2006.

Shooting Star Columbine lacks the huge, showy sepals that fan out behind Colorado Columbine petals and it does not usually grow in the dense showy patches that characterize Colorado Columbine, but Shooting Star Columbine is still a strikingly beautiful flower.  It is quite common in open woods where it can go unnoticed in the dense greenery around it, but on rock ledges and other open areas, it is obvious and very picturesque.  Flowers appear early in the spring at lower elevations and can be found throughout the mountain growing season.

Montane, subalpine. Woodlands, rocks. Spring, summer.
Road below Spiller/Hlemet Ridge, June 22, 2009.

Montane, subalpine. Woodlands, rocks. Spring, summer.
Bear Creek Trail, June 14, 2005.

August 2, 2005.
Location not given to protect the plants.

Aquilegia coerulea has showy flared sepals and petals; Aquilegia elegantula is streamlined and cylindrical.  The hybrid of the two, shown at left, takes its shape from A. coerulea and its color from A. elegantula.

William Weber indicates that "since there are no genetic barriers between species of Aquilegia, hybrids are to be found between any species that come in contact". However, I have found very few hybrids in the Four Corners area.  Click for more photos of the hybids.  In the picture at left, the lower right flower is not open; it is just a bud and will open to look like the top flower with flared sepals.

Weber also indicates that the hybridization "causes some variability in [Aquilegia coerulea] but leaves Aquilegia elegantula pure".