Aquilegia desertorum (M.E Jones)
Cockerell ex Heller
Synonyms: Aquilegia formosa Fisher ex de Candolle var.
desertorum M.E. Jones, Aquilegia triternata Payson
Family: Ranunculaceae
Description: Stems slender, glandular hairy above, about 30.0
cm high, basal leaves biternate, rarely over one-third as long
as the stems; leaflets small, rather thick, pubescent, glaucous
on both surfaces; stem leaves several; bracts once or twice
ternate; flowers nodding, sepals dark red, elliptic lanceolate,
about 1 cm long; laminae yellow, rounded, about 5 mm long; spurs
light red, straight, slender, 22-25 mm long.
Distribution: AZ, Coconino County.
Plants Seen or Cited: Although Kearney and Peebles give its distribution
as AZ, UT, and NM, I could not locate any vouchered specimens
from New Mexico, or Utah. It appears to be endemic to Coconino
Co., AZ. Unspecific collections from Apache, Yavapai, and Navajo
counties, AZ, have yet to be relocated.
Discussion: Aquilegia desertorum was once thought to be very rare in AZ,
but upon further study, it was found to be more common than previously
thought. It should be dropped from the NM rare plant
list. It is considered sensitive in AZ, but apparently there are no documented
occurrences of this species from NM.
Important Literature:
Kearney, R.H. and T.H. Peebles. 1960. Arizona Flora
(with suplement). University of California Press, Berkeley.
Information Compiled By: Daniela Roth, 1998
