Aquilegia ecalcarata

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Aquilegia ecalcarata
Aquilegia ecalcarata kz03.jpg
At the Berlin Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum
Aquilegia ecalcarata fma. alba Maxim., Fl. Tangut. (1889) 20 t. 8 fig. 12. (51214774639).jpg
A white-flowered specimen
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Ranunculaceae
Genus: Aquilegia
Species:
A. ecalcarata
Binomial name
Aquilegia ecalcarata
Synonyms [1]
  • Aquilegia ecalcarata f. semicalcarata (Schipcz.) Hand.-Mazz.
  • Aquilegia semicalcarata(Schipcz.) Erst
  • Semiaquilegia ecalcarata(Maxim.) Sprague & Hutch.
  • Semiaquilegia ecalcarata f. semicalcarataSchipcz.
  • Semiaquilegia simulatrixJ.R.Drumm.

Aquilegia ecalcarata, the spurless columbine [2] or false columbine, [3] is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to central China. [1]

Contents

Description

Aquilegia ecalcarata grows to 20–60 cm (7.9–23.6 in) (rarely 80 cm (31 in)) tall, with one to four downy stems and biternate basal leaves. The flowers are 15–28 mm (0.59–1.10 in) in diameter with sepals and petals, usually purple in colour and, uniquely among Aquilegia species, lacking a nectar spur. [4]

Taxonomy

Because of its lack of nectar spurs, the species has previously been classified in the genus Semiaquilegia [2] or posited as an ancestor to the Aquilegia genus. [5] However, phylogenetic study suggests that it belongs to a Euro-Asiatic lineage of Aquilegia and is most closely related to another Chinese species Aquilegia yabeana , and therefore has likely lost its spurs over time, probably as a result of its being pollinated by hoverflies rather than bees. [5]

There is some evidence that the species may be polyphyletic and in fact consist of two lineages that independently evolved a spurless form. [6]

Etymology

The specific epithet ecalcarata is Latin for "without spurs", from e- "without" and calcarata "spurred, having a spur", referring to the lack of nectar spurs in the species.

Distribution and habitat

Aquilegia ecalcarata is endemic to central China, found in Gansu, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, and eastern Tibet. It grows in stony environments along the slopes or peaks of mountains or by riversides, [6] and in sparse forests, scrub, and grassy slopes at altitudes of 1,800–3,500 m (5,900–11,500 ft). [4]

Ecology

The species flowers in May to June [4] and is pollinated by hoverflies. [5] Although its habitat overlaps with that of Aquilegia incurvata and A. yabeana, the species have different pollinators and therefore have remained distinct and do not hybridize, an example of sympatric speciation. [5]

Conservation

The species has not been assessed for the IUCN Red List. [7]

Cultivation

As its synonym Semiaquilegia ecalcarata it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>Aquilegia</i> Genus of perennial plants (columbine)

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.

<i>Aquilegia canadensis</i> Common North American species of columbine

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.

<i>Aquilegia coerulea</i> North American species of columbine

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".

<i>Aquilegia grata</i> Balkan species of columbine

Aquilegia grata is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to the northwestern Balkans.

<i>Aquilegia chrysantha</i> North American species of columbine

Aquilegia chrysantha, the golden columbine, is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.

<i>Aquilegia flavescens</i> North American species of columbine

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.

<i>Aquilegia elegantula</i> North American species of columbine

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.

<i>Aquilegia micrantha <span style="font-style:normal;">var.</span> grahamii</i> Variety of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae

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.

<i>Aquilegia bertolonii</i> European species of columbine

Aquilegia bertolonii, common name Bertoloni columbine or Bertoloni's columbine, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to Italy, southern France, and Slovenia.

<i>Aquilegia pyrenaica</i> Pyrenean endemic species of columbine

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.

<i>Aquilegia longissima</i> North American species of columbine

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.

<i>Aquilegia fragrans</i> Himalayan species of columbine

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.

<i>Aquilegia alpina</i> Alpine European species of columbine

Aquilegia alpina, the alpine columbine or breath of God, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to the western and central Alps.

<i>Aquilegia olympica</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae

Aquilegia olympica is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to Turkey, Iran, and the Caucasus.

<i>Aquilegia ottonis</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae

Aquilegia ottonis is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to Greece.

<i>Aquilegia sibirica</i> Species of flowering plant

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.

<i>Aquilegia bernardii</i> Corsican species of columbine

Aquilegia bernardii, common name Bernard's columbine, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to Corsica.

<i>Aquilegia desertorum</i> North American species of columbine

Aquilegia desertorum, the desert columbine, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to the southwestern United States.

<i>Aquilegia glandulosa</i> North Asian species of columbine

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 incurvata, or the Qinling columbine (秦岭耧斗菜), is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to the Qinling mountain range in China.

References

  1. 1 2 "Aquilegia ecalcarata Maxim". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Aquilegia ecalcarata: use it or lose it syndrome". BotanyCA. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  3. "Aquilegia ecalcarata (False Columbine)". Gardenia. 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 "Aquilegia ecalcarata". Flora of China. Vol. 6. Retrieved 2 November 2024 via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Bastida, Jésus M.; Alcántara, Julio M.; Rey, Pedro J.; Vargas, Pablo; Herrera, Carlos M. (2010). "Extended phylogeny of Aquilegia: the biogeographical and ecological patterns of two simultaneous but contrasting radiations". Plant Systematics and Evolution. 284: 171–185. doi:10.1007/s00606-009-0243-z.
  6. 1 2 Huang, Lei; Geng, Fang-Dong; Fan, Jing-Jing; Zhai, Wei; Xue, Cheng; Zhang, Xiao-Hui; Ren, Yi; Kang, Ju-Qing (2021). "Evidence for two types of Aquilegia ecalcarata and its implications for adaptation to new environments". Plant Diversity. 44 (2): 153–162. doi:10.1016/j.pld.2021.06.006. PMC   9043306 .
  7. "Aquilegia - genus". IUCN Red List. 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  8. "Semiaquilegia ecalcarata". The Royal Horticultural Society. 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021.