Is it a pigeon, or is it an eagle?

Today, after a week looking at the wide landscapes of Orkney, a close-up view. This is the seed-head of a Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris) flower.

The plant's name is interesting in that both its common and scientific names refer to birds, but of different species. The common name, Columbine, comes from the medieval Latin columbina, meaning pigeon, the inverted flower having some resemblance to five pigeons clustered together. The scientific name Aquilegia, on the other hand, derives from the mediaeval Latin for eagle, aquilega, based on the fact that the seed-head resembles an eagle's claws.

Although pretty, the columbine is poisonous so don't be tempted to use the flowers to cheer up your salads!