Aquilegia saximontana
| Aquilegia saximontana | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Ranunculaceae |
| Genus: | Aquilegia |
| Species: | A. saximontana |
| Binomial name | |
| Aquilegia saximontana | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Aquilegia saximontana, the alpine dwarf columbine, dwarf blue columbine, or alpine columbine, is a perennial plant that comes from the buttercup family. This plant species is native to just the US state of Colorado.
Description
[edit]A. saximontana can be found in sub-alpine and alpine areas at elevations of 3,300–4,000 m (10,800–13,100 ft) in the Rocky Mountains. This species of columbine blooms in July and August. The blooms are lavender and white, and the entire plant reaches 5–25 cm (2.0–9.8 in) in height.[3]
A. saximontana should not be confused with Aquilegia coerulea var. coerulea, which overlaps in range and may also have blue and white flowers. They can be identified by comparing the length of the "spur"-shaped backs of the flowers; A. saximontana has hooked spurs 3–9 mm (0.12–0.35 in) long, while A. coerulea has straight spurs 34–48 mm (1.3–1.9 in) in length.[3][4]
Taxonomy
[edit]Aquilegia saximontana was scientifically described and named by Per Axel Rydberg in 1895. It is classified in the genus Aquilegia within the family Ranunculaceae. It has one heterotypic synonym, Aquilegia brevistyla var. leicocarpa, created by Paul Johannes Brühl in 1893.[2]
Names
[edit]The botanical name saximontana means 'Rocky Mountains'.[5] Aquilegia saximontana is known by the common names Rocky Mountain columbine or Rocky Mountain blue columbine,[1][6] however the Colorado columbine (Aquilegia coerulea) which also grows in Colorado is very frequently called Rocky Mountain columbine.[7] The species is also known as dwarf blue columbine,[5] but shares this name with rock columbine (Aquilegia scopulorum).[8] It is also known as alpine blue columbine and simply dwarf columbine.[9]
Range and habitat
[edit]Alpine blue columbine is endemic to the Rocky Mountains in the north central part of the state.[1] It has been recorded in eight counties, Larimer, Boulder, Gilpin, Jefferson, Clear Creek, Summit, Park, and El Paso.[6] It is found above 3,300 meters (10,800 ft) in elevation to as high as 4,000 meters (13,000 ft).[10]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- 1 2 3 NatureServe 2026.
- 1 2 POWO 2026.
- 1 2 "Aquilegia saximontana". Efloras, FNA Vol. 3. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
- ↑ "Aquilegia coerulea var. coerulea". Efloras, FNA Vol. 3. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
- 1 2 Dannen & Dannen 1981, p. 51.
- 1 2 NRCS 2026.
- ↑ Frank 1999, p. 108.
- ↑ Buchanan 1979, p. 8.
- ↑ Guennel 1995, p. 324.
- ↑ Whittemore 2020.
Sources
[edit]Books
[edit]- Buchanan, Hayle (1979). Wildflower Communities of Bryce Canyon & Cedar Breaks (Second ed.). Bryce Canyon, Utah: Bryce Canyon Natural History Association. OCLC 7958845. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- Dannen, Kent; Dannen, Donna (1981). Rocky Mountain Wildflowers. Estes Park, Colorado: Tundra Publications. ISBN 978-0-9606768-0-4. OCLC 7554392. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- Frank, James (1999). Colorado. Aurora, Colorado: Altitude Publishing. ISBN 978-1-55265-018-9. OCLC 1036026822. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- Guennel, G. K. (1995). Guide to Colorado Wildflowers. Vol. 2 Mountains. Englewood, Colorado: Westcliffe. ISBN 978-1-56579-118-3. OCLC 34112646. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
Web sources
[edit]- NatureServe (27 February 2026). "Aquilegia saximontana". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- NRCS (2026). "Aquilegia saximontana". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- POWO (2026). "Aquilegia saximontana Rydb". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- Whittemore, Alan T. (5 November 2020) [In print 1997]. "Aquilegia saximontana". Flora of North America. Archived from the original on 24 July 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Aquilegia saximontana at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Aquilegia saximontana at Wikispecies
 | This Ranunculaceae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. |