Aquilegia pubescens
Aquilegia pubescens | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Ranunculales |
Family: | Ranunculaceae |
Genus: | Aquilegia |
Species: | A. pubescens
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Binomial name | |
Aquilegia pubescens |
Aquilegia pubescens is a high-altitude species of columbine known by the common names Sierra columbine, alpine columbine and Coville's columbine. Its flowers are large and usually a creamy white.
Distribution and habitat
This wildflower is
Description
This leafy columbine rarely reaches half a meter-1.5 feet in height. The showy flowers are erect or spreading, rather than drooping. The characteristic spurs may be up to 5 centimeters long and the flowers up to 5 cm wide. The sepals (outer ring) and the petals (inner, with spurs) are generally cream or white, less often pink or yellow. The round, fused mouth protrudes, enclosing a cluster of long yellow stamens.[2]
Hybrids
Aquilegia pubescens 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]
Gallery
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Aquilegia pubescens flower, full-face
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Aquilegia pubescens bud & flowers
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An unusual Aquilegia pubescens at Red Butte Gardens
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Aquilegia_pubescens-formosa_hybrid-swarm_flowers_close_h.jpg/520px-Aquilegia_pubescens-formosa_hybrid-swarm_flowers_close_h.jpg)
References
- ^ "NatureServe Explorer - Aquilegia pubescens". NatureServe Explorer Aquilegia pubescens. NatureServe. 2022-05-30. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ ISBN 9780520253124.
- ISBN 9780899977386.