| Aquilegia bashahrica | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Preserved specimen of Aquilegia bashahrica | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Ranunculaceae |
| Genus: | Aquilegia |
| Species: | A. bashahrica |
| Binomial name | |
| Aquilegia bashahrica | |
Aquilegia bashahrica is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to the Himalayas. [1]
Aquilegia bashahrica is a perennial herb growing to 20 to 80 cm (7.9 to 31.5 in) tall. It has a short, vertical taproot bearing one to three annual flowering stems, which are sparsely pubescent. The leaves are somewhat thick and fleshy with a dark green upper side and greyish underside. The basal leaves are biternate or triternate (i.e. with three stalks, each with three leaflets that divide into three lobes) and measure 8–21 cm (3.1–8.3 in) long, with stalks of 5–15 cm (2.0–5.9 in) length covered in long white hairs. The plant produces between three and six nodding, yellow flowers measuring 2.5–4 cm (0.98–1.57 in) across which are smooth or sparsely hairy. The sepals are perpendicular to the flower, pointed, and 3–4 cm (1.2–1.6 in) long. The petals are teardrop-shaped, 2–3 cm (0.79–1.18 in) long, and bent outwards, with straight nectar spurs of 0.5–1.5 cm length, slightly curved at the tip. The stamens extend beyond the petals, and the anthers are yellow. [2]
The type specimen was collected by John Henry Lace in 1890, in Bagi Forest, Bushahr, in what is now Himachal Pradesh in northern India. It was formally described as a separate species by Andrey S. Erst in 2020. [2]
The flowers of A. bashahrica are unusual for Aquilegia, in which genus only those of Aquilegia pubiflora are similar. Both species have pointed egg-shaped sepals with a tapering, concave tip, outwardly-bent petals and small flowers. However, unlike A. pubiflora, A. bashahrica has yellow flowers, yellow rather than blackish anthers, anthers as long as or longer than the petals, and fleshy, dark green leaves. A. bashahrica is the only known Indian Aquilegia species with yellow flowers. [2]
Alongside the formal description of the species, Erst also described a putative hybrid of the species and A. pubiflora named Aquilegia × emodi , with characteristics intermediate between the two species, such as bicoloured purple and yellow flowers. [2]
The specific epithet bashahrica is taken from Bashahr, a variant spelling of the former princely state of Bushahr, in which the type specimen was collected in 1890. [2]
Aquilegia bashahrica is endemic to Himachal Pradesh in the Western Himalayas, growing in mountainous forests at altitudes of 2,400–2,600 m (7,900–8,500 ft). [2]
As of December 2024 [update] , the species has not been assessed for the IUCN Red List. [3] The species description in 2020 noted that there was insufficient data at that point to make an assessment of its risk status. [2]
Aquilegia bashahrica flowers between April and May, and fruits between May and August. [2]
Aquilegia is a genus of about 130 species of perennial plants that are found in meadows, woodlands, and at higher elevations throughout the Northern Hemisphere, known for the spurred petals of their flowers.
Aquilegia canadensis, the Canadian or Canada columbine, eastern red columbine, or wild columbine, is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. It is an herbaceous perennial native to woodland and rocky slopes in eastern North America, prized for its red and yellow flowers. It readily hybridizes with other species in the genus Aquilegia.
Aquilegia pubescens is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to the Sierra Nevada in California. It is usually known by the common name Sierra columbine, and less frequently as the alpine columbine or Coville's columbine.
Aquilegia eximia, the serpentine columbine or Van Houtte's columbine, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to California.
Aquilegia pyrenaica, common name Pyrenean columbine, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae. It is endemic to the Pyrenees where it grows on grassland and in rocky places. It was first described in 1805 by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle who gave it the name Aquilegia pyrenaica.
Aquilegia fragrans, the fragrant columbine or sweet-scented columbine, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to the Western Himalayas.
Aquilegia viridiflora, commonly known as the green columbine or green-flowered columbine, is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to southern Siberia, northern China, Mongolia, and Japan.
Aquilegia skinneri, commonly known as the Mexican columbine or Skinner's columbine, is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to Mexico and Guatemala.
Aquilegia lactiflora is a perennial species of plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to Central Asia and the Himalayas.
Aquilegia aradanica is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to Siberia.
Aquilegia aragonensis is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to northern Spain.
Aquilegia ballii is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to Morocco.
Aquilegia barykinae is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to the Russian Far East. The species was first described in 2014. Its flowers are lilac-blue.
Aquilegia amurensis is a partially accepted species of flowering plant in the genus Aquilegia (columbines) in the family Ranunculaceae that is native to the northeastern Asian. Its natural range is in the northern Greater Khingan mountain range and Amur River of China, as well as Siberian Russia, Mongolia, and possibly North Korea. Flowers of this plant have petal blades that are whitish or white-tipped, with blue-violet nectar spurs and sepals. The plant is rarely cultivated.
Aquilegia cazorlensis is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to southeastern Spain.
Aquilegia cremnophila is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to Sardinia.
Aquilegia cymosa is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to Pakistan.
Aquilegia daingolica is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to Mongolia. The plant's flowers are blue or violet-blue.
Aquilegia dichroa is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to Portugal and northwestern Spain.
Aquilegia × emodi is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to the Western Himalayas. It is a natural hybrid of Aquilegia bashahrica and Aquilegia pubiflora.
Media related to Aquilegia bashahrica at Wikimedia Commons