Goodrich's Columbine

Photo by Garrett Billings; Garrett Billings

Aquilegia scopulorum var. goodrichii

NatureServe conservation status

Global (G-rank): G3?T1T2
State (S-rank): S1S2

Utah Wildlife Action Plan status

• SGCN

External links

• NatureServe species report
• Google image search
• Google web search

General information

Goodrich's columbine (Aquilegia scopulorum var. goodrichii)  is endemic to the West Tavaputs Plateau in  Duchesne County, Utah. It grows on Green River Shale bluffs and ridge crests at 7390 to 9420 ft elevation with pine, juniper, and mountain brush communities. Oil shale, tar sand, oil and gas development are known threats to this species. Grazing and drought are potential threats. 

Description

Aquilegia scopulorum var. goodrichii is a long-lived perennial forb reaching 45 cm in height. The stems are pubescentcovered with long, soft hairs lying mostly in the same direction throughout or glabroussmooth, hairless below with ternatearranged in a whorla set of plant parts arranged in a circle around a central axis or cluster of three to biternatecompound leaf structure in which the primary division is ternatearranged in a whorla set of plant parts arranged in a circle around a central axis or cluster of three (three parts), each of those divisions is again ternatearranged in a whorla set of plant parts arranged in a circle around a central axis or cluster of three, resulting in 9 leaflets

Phenology

Most flowering specimens were collected in July. 

Diagnostic characteristics

Aquilegia scopulorum var. goodrichii is distinguished from var. scopulorum by its white rather than blue flowers, and its more restricted range. 

Species range

This species is found atop the Green River Shale ridges in the West Tavaputs Plateau of southern Duchesne County.

Map

Threats or limiting factors

The primary threat to this species is energy exploration and development. Additional potential threats include grazing and drought.

Taxonomy

No, this species does not have taxonomic discrepancies