Desolation Canyon Columbine
N. D. Atwood; Zach Coury 2024; Zach Coury 2024
Aquilegia desolaticola
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G2
State (S-rank): S2
Utah Wildlife Action Plan status
- SGCN
External links
General information
Aquilegia desolaticola is endemic to Desolation Canyon in Utah. It grows in seeps of moist sandy soils of the Cretaceous Price River Formation along the Green River. Its flowers have various shades of golden yellow to cream, and its spurs can become slightly suffused with blue upon drying.
Description
Aquilegia desolaticola is endemic to Desolation Canyon in Utah. It grows in seeps of moist sandy soils of the Cretaceous Price River Formation along the Green River. Its flowers have various shades of golden yellow to cream, and its spurs can become slightly suffused with blue upon drying.
Diagnostic characteristics
This plant is distinguishable by its very conspicuous build up of marcescent leaf bases, which persist for many years. While closely allied to A. barnebyi, the flower colors are different and A. desolaticola has longer biternate leaves, longer sepals, and thicker leaf segments.
Species range
This species is endemic to Rattlesnake Canyon, a sequential drainage in Desolation Canyon in Grand County, Utah.
Threats or limiting factors
Threats are likely low as the habitat is isolated from people although climate change could be a potential threat.
Taxonomy
No, this species does not have taxonomic discrepancies