Brevistyla: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 

	plants more than 15 cm tall; NOT [plants mostly less than 15 cm tall]
	plants with stem leaves; NOT [leaves all basal]
	plants several-flowered; NOT [plants usually 1-flowered]
	flowers blue or purple, the petals often whitish; NOT [flowers yellow, red or both]
	blade of petals longer than the spurs; NOT [blade of petals shorter than the spurs]

Aquilegia: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 

	plants tall; NOT [plants small]
	plants NOT climbing
	leaves either basal or alternate; NOT [plants with opposite leaves]
	leaves compound; NOT [leaves simple]
	flowers regular
	petals spurred
	flowers with 5 spurs; NOT [flowers with 1 spur]
	flowers showy
	flowers 15-25 mm long; NOT [flowers 3-5 mm long]

Ranunculaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family.  Note all the answers apply to all members of Ranunculaceae found in the Canadian prairies, but they all do apply to this species.

	herbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]
	plants terrestrial or semiaquatic; NOT [plants aquatic, leaves submerged or floating]
	plants NOT with colored milky juice
	plants with more than one normal leaf
	some or all leaves alternate; NOT [leaves opposite, whorled, or basal]
	leaves without stipules, or having glands; NOT [leaves with stipules]
	flower with two floral rings, and with each petal distinct from the others
	calyx regular; NOT [calyx irregular, some sepals smaller than others]
	stamens usually more than 10; NOT [stamens 10 or fewer]
	carpels separate; NOT [carpels united]