Aquilegia pubescens | |
---|---|
White-flowered Aquilegia pubescens plant among rocks in the Sierra Nevada, California | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Ranunculales |
Family: | Ranunculaceae |
Genus: | Aquilegia |
Species: | A. pubescens |
Binomial name | |
Aquilegia pubescens | |
Synonyms [2] | |
|
Aquilegia pubescens is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, endemic to the Sierra Nevada in California. [2] It is usually known by the common name Sierra columbine, [1] and less frequently as the alpine columbine (not to be confused with the European Aquilegia alpina ) or Coville's columbine. [3]
Aquilegia pubescens is a small species growing to 15–50 cm (5.9–19.7 in) in height. [4] The rootstock is densely covered with the remains of previous years' leaves, and the stems are mostly smooth with sparse hairs towards the top. The leaves are ternate and the leaflets densely pubescent below, and somewhat less so on their upper surface. [5] The 2–5 flowers are erect or spreading, rather than drooping. The characteristic nectar spurs may be up to 5 cm (2.0 in) long and the flowers up to 5 cm (2.0 in) wide. The sepals and the petals are generally cream or white, less often pink or yellow. The round, fused mouth protrudes, enclosing a cluster of long yellow stamens. [6]
Aquilegia pubescens is part of a clade containing all the North American species of columbines that likely split from their closest relatives in East Asia in the mid-Pliocene, approximately 3.84 million years ago. It is closely related to the hummingbird-pollinated Aquilegia eximia , Aquilegia flavescens , and Aquilegia formosa . [7]
The Sierra columbine can hybridize with the lower-elevation Aquilegia formosa (crimson columbine) where their ranges overlap. This produces flowers with intermediate color, spur length, and orientation, as shown in the transition-series image, providing a change also in pollinator species: hawkmoths for A. pubescens and hummingbirds for A. formosa. [3] Barriers to gene flow between the species are maintained primarily through their specialisation to different habitats, and secondarily to different pollinators. [8]
The specific epithet pubescens means "hairy" in Latin, referring to the densely pubescent leaflets which Frederick Vernon Coville identified as a distinguishing feature in his original species description of the plant. [5]
The species is endemic to the High Sierra in California. An isolated record from Colorado is likely to have been a non-native introduced specimen. [1] It is found in alpine and subalpine climates, often on open, rocky slopes, between 8,000–12,000 ft (2,400–3,700 m). [6]
Aquilegia pubescens is pollinated by hawkmoths. [7] [8] It flowers in May and June. [9]
As of November 2024 [update] , NatureServe listed Aquilegia pubescens as Vulnerable (G3) worldwide. This status was last reviewed on 12 May 1999. [1] It has not been assessed for the IUCN Red List. [10]
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 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 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 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.
The flora of the U.S. Sierra Nevada alpine zone is characterized by small, low growing, cushion and mat forming plants that can survive the harsh conditions in the high-altitude alpine zone above the timber line. These flora often occur in alpine fell-fields. The Sierra Nevada alpine zone lacks a dominant plant species that characterizes it, so may or may not be called a vegetation type. But it is found above the subalpine forest, which is the highest in a succession of recognized vegetation types at increasing elevations.
A nectar spur is a hollow extension of a part of a flower. The spur may arise from various parts of the flower: the sepals, petals, or hypanthium, and often contain tissues that secrete nectar (nectaries). Nectar spurs are present in many clades across the angiosperms, and are often cited as an example of convergent evolution.
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 ecalcarata, the spurless columbine or false columbine, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to central China.
Aquilegia rockii is a perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to southern China.
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 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 buergeriana is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to Japan.
Aquilegia desertorum, the desert columbine, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to the Southwestern United States.
Aquilegia einseleana, or Einsele's columbine, is a perennial species of plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to the eastern Alps.
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.