| Aquilegia desertorum | |
|---|---|
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| Flower | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Ranunculaceae |
| Genus: | Aquilegia |
| Species: | A. desertorum |
| Binomial name | |
| Aquilegia desertorum | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Aquilegia desertorum, the desert columbine, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to the Southwestern United States. [2]
The desert columbine is a small species growing to 15–30 cm (5.9–11.8 in) in height, and has nodding red flowers with yellow centre petals. The stamens extend beyond the centre petals, and are yellow in colour. The flower spurs are red in colour, broad at the base, and straight. [3] Unlike most other columbine species, it does not have an upright habit. [4]
Aquilegia desertorum is very close to Aquilegia canadensis and may not be truly distinct at species level. Plants from the eastern and southern parts of its range have sometimes been considered a distinct species, Aquilegia triternata, largely based on their longer sepals and petal blades, but in central Arizona the two varieties become hard to distinguish, [5] and A. triternata is therefore usually considered a synonym of A. desertorum. [2]
The specific epithet desertorum means "of deserts" in Latin. [6]
Aquilegia desertorum is native to New Mexico, Arizona, and southwest Utah. [2] It inhabits open rocky limestone [4] areas at altitudes of 2,000–2,500 m (6,600–8,200 ft), where seepage or other moisture is present. [5] [3]
The flowering period is from May to October. [5] The species is primarily pollinated by hummingbirds. [3]
As of October 2024 [update] , NatureServe listed Aquilegia desertorum as Apparently secure (G4) overall and in Arizona, but Critically Imperiled (S1) in Utah and in the Navajo Nation. [1]
The Kayenta Navajo used Aquilegia desertorum as an aid in ceremonies. [5]
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 formosa, the crimson columbine, western columbine, or (ambiguously) "red columbine", is a common wildflower native to western North America, from Alaska to Baja California, and eastward to Montana and Wyoming.
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 coerulea, the Colorado columbine, Rocky Mountain columbine, or blue columbine, is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native to the Rocky Mountains and some of the surrounding states of the western United States. It is the state flower of Colorado. The Latin specific name coerulea means "sky blue".
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 chrysantha, the golden columbine, is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The plant, with a height of between 40 centimetres (16 in) and 120 centimetres (47 in), has yellow flowers. A. chrysantha. as with other members of the Aquilegia coerulea species complex, is evolved for pollination by hawkmoth. It favors moist environments in its mountainous range.
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 flavescens, the yellow columbine, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to the Rocky Mountains of the United States and Canada.
Aquilegia elegantula, the western red columbine, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Aquilegia micrantha var. grahamii, common name Graham's columbine, is a variety of perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to Utah in the United States.
Aquilegia longissima, the long-spur columbine or long-spurred columbine, is a rare perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae that is native to northern Mexico, Texas, and Arizona.
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 barnebyi, commonly known as the oil shale columbine or Barneby's columbine, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the buttercup family, with a native range comprising northeastern Utah and northwestern Colorado in the United States. It is named after Rupert Charles Barneby, who, with Harry Dwight Dillon Ripley, first discovered it in Colorado.
Aquilegia ecalcarata, the spurless columbine or false columbine, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to central China.
Aquilegia sibirica, the Siberian columbine, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae native to the north-central Asian regions of Siberia, northern Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Xinjiang. A hardy perennial plant, it prefers temperate environments. The Siberian columbine can be between 1 foot (0.30 m) and 2 feet (0.61 m) tall with flowers that are lilac-blue and white in color.
Aquilegia atrovinosa is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae native to Central Asia.
Aquilegia desolaticola, the desolation columbine or Desolation Canyon columbine, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to Utah.
Aquilegia glandulosa, the Altai columbine or Siberian columbine, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to northern and central Asia.
Aquilegia atwoodii, commonly known as Atwood's columbine, is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to Utah.
Aquilegia chaplinei, also known as Chaplin's columbine, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae native to the arid Guadalupe and Sacramento Mountains of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico in the West South Central United States. A perennial plant with an average height of 40 centimetres (16 in), A. chaplinei is characterized as a dwarf version of its close relative Aquilegia chrysantha and is sometimes considered a variant of this species. A. chaplinei's leaves are in a basal arrangement and give the plant a fern-like appearance when not flowering. Its flowers are pale yellow. It is named for W. R. Chapline, the first person to collect the plant and who collected the holotype from Sitting Bull Falls in New Mexico in 1916.
Media related to Aquilegia desertorum at Wikimedia Commons