Graham's Columbine
Aquilegia grahamii
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G2
State (S-rank): S2
Utah Wildlife Action Plan status
- SGCN
External links
General information
Aquilegia grahamii or graham’s columbine is a perennial herb with glandular stems and fushcia-red to yellow flowers which bloom from June throughout July. This Utah endemic can be found in hanging rock gardens in the eastern Uinta Mountains. This species is threatened by climate change and mining impacts.
Description
Aquilegia grahamii or graham’s columbine is a perennial herb with glandular stems and fushcia-red to yellow flowers which bloom from June throughout July. This Utah endemic can be found in hanging rock gardens in the eastern Uinta Mountains. This species is threatened by climate change and mining impacts.
Phenology
Flowering from June throughout July.
Diagnostic characteristics
This species is distinguishable by its size, glandular stems and its reddish to yellow flowers. While similar to A. micrantha as both have glandular pubescence, A. grahamii has flowers which are longer than they are broad and red-fuchsia spurs with yellow blades.
Species range
Endemic to Utah, this columbine is found in the eastern Uinta Mountains in Uintah County.
Threats or limiting factors
Due to its steep isolated habitat, there are likely to be few threats (Franklin 2005). Populations on Ashley National Forest seem to have little threat (S. Goodrich, USFS, pers. comm. 2011). However, some occurrences are near a phosphate mines and could be impacted by mining operations. Climate change causing severe droughts could also be an issue as hanging gardens are water dependent.
Taxonomy
No, this species does not have taxonomic discrepancies