Aquilegia nuragica | |
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Botanical illustration of Aquilegia nuragica | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Ranunculales |
Family: | Ranunculaceae |
Genus: | Aquilegia |
Species: | A. nuragica |
Binomial name | |
Aquilegia nuragica | |
Aquilegia nuragica, commonly called Nuragica columbine, [3] is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae. It is endemic to Italy, in a single canyon in the Supramonte mountain range on the island of Sardinia. [1]
Aquilegia nuragica has a single, scarcely branching vertical stem of 20–45 cm (8–18 in) in height, smooth at the bottom and covered with fine hairs or glands further up. The basal leaves have hairless stalks 12–25 cm (5–10 in) long, each division of which creates a set of three stalks. The leaflets consist of three segments with pointed teeth on the outer edge (contrasting with the closely related Sardinian species Aquilegia barbaricina , which has more rounded teeth). The plant produces three to five nodding, pale blue or white flowers 25–30 mm (1.0–1.2 in) across, consisting of five fused petals with ending in a hooked nectar spur. The fruit is a hooked, drop-shaped capsule. [4]
The species forms a monophyletic clade with the other columbine species endemic to Corsica and Sardinia, Aquilegia barbaricina, Aquilegia bernardii , Aquilegia litardierei , and Aquilegia nugorensis . [5] However, it is clearly genetically isolated from the other Sardinian species. [4]
The specific epithet nuragica means "Nuragic" in Latin and Italian, referring to the Nuragic civilization that flourished on Sardinia in the Bronze Age.
Aquilegia nuragica is only found in one area of about 50 m2 (540 sq ft) at Gorropu, near Urzulei. [4] It grows on the nearly vertical limestone cliffs at altitudes of 620–680 m (2,030–2,230 ft), [6] in a gorge along the seasonal Flumineddu River. It can occasionally be found on the sandy pebble substrate of the riverbed due to seeds being dispersed from the cliff, although these specimens are regularly washed away by floods. [4]
Aquilegia nuragica is an IUCN Red List Critically Endangered plant species and IUCN Top 50 Campaign Mediterranean Island Plants, threatened by habitat loss. The population is very small, with only 10–15 individuals believed to exist. [1]
The decline in the plant's population seems to be due to natural factors. However, due to the inaccessibility of the site, it is difficult to research the decline. It is not affected by grazing due to the plant's toxicity. [1]
The species is currently not under any legal protection. Despite occurring within the Gennargentu National Park, the lack of a management committee means no effective preservation measures are in place. [4]
The natural habitat of Aquilegia nuragica is in Mediterranean shrubby vegetation. [1]
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.
The Sardinian dhole is an extinct insular canid which was endemic to what is now the Mediterranean islands of Sardinia and Corsica during the Middle-Late Pleistocene. It went extinct at the end of the Pleistocene around the time of human settlement of the islands.
Aquilegia barbaricina, common name Barbaricina columbine, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae. It is endemic to Italy, occurring only on the island of Sardinia.
Ribes sardoum, commonly called Sardinian currant, is a species of plant in the gooseberry family. It is endemic to Italy, found only on the island of Sardinia.
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.
Megalenhydris barbaricina is an extinct species of giant otter from the Late Pleistocene of Sardinia. It is known from a single partial skeleton, discovered in the Grotta di Ispinigoli near Dorgali, and was described in 1987. It was larger than any living otter, exceeding the size of South American giant otters (Petrolutra), which can reach two meters in length. The species is one of four extinct otter species from Sardinia and Corsica. The others are Algarolutra majori, Lutra castiglionis and Sardolutra ichnusae. It is suggested to have ultimately originated from the much smaller European mainland species "Lutra" simplicidens, which may be more closely related to Lutrogale than to modern Lutra species. The structure of the teeth points to a diet of bottom dwelling fish and crustaceans. A special characteristic of the species is the flattening of the first few caudal vertebrae. This might point to a slightly flattened tail.
The Nuragic civilization, also known as the Nuragic culture, formed in the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, Italy in the Bronze Age. According to the traditional theory put forward by Giovanni Lilliu in 1966, it developed after multiple migrations from the West of people related to the Beaker culture who conquered and disrupted the local Copper Age cultures; other scholars instead hypothesize an autochthonous origin. It lasted from the 18th century BC, up to the Iron Age or till the Roman colonization in 238 BC. Others date the culture as lasting at least until the 2nd century AD, and in some areas, namely the Barbagia, to the 6th century AD, or possibly even to the 11th century AD. Although it must be remarked that the construction of new nuraghi had already stopped by the 12th-11th century BC, during the Final Bronze Age.
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.
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 olympica is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to Turkey, Iran, and the Caucasus.
Aquilegia rockii is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to southern China.
Aquilegia bernardii, common name Bernard's columbine, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to Corsica.
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 litardierei is a perennial species of plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to Corsica.
Aquilegia apuana is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to central Italy.
Aquilegia atwoodii, commonly known as Atwood's columbine, is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to Utah.
Aquilegia ballii is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to Morocco.
Aquilegia cremnophila is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to Sardinia.
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.