Aquilegia formosa Fischer ex de Candolle var. caelifax (Payson) Munz; A. mohavensis Munz

Stems 40-100 cm. Basal leaves 2-3×-ternately compound, 9-45 cm, much shorter than stems; leaflets to 11-38 mm, sometimes viscid, glaucous on both surfaces; primary petiolules 23-80 mm (leaflets not crowded), glabrous or pilose. Flowers nodding; sepals perpendicular to floral axis, red (or sometimes partly yellow or green), lanceolate to elliptic, 10-20 × 4-8 mm, apex acuminate or acute; petals: spurs red or pink, straight, ± parallel, 12-25(-30) mm, rather stout, usually abruptly narrowed near middle, blades yellow, oblong or rounded, 2-5 × 4-7 mm; stamens 12-16 mm. Follicles 14-25 mm; beak 9-12 mm.

Flowering spring-summer (Apr-Aug). Moist places in dry woodlands and shrublands; 1200-2700 m; Calif., Nev.