Aquilegia barbaricina

Description

Aquilegia barbaricina grows on a single stem to a height of 30–60 cm. The stem is covered with fine hairs, branching into 3–5 nearly leafless flower stalks. The leaf stalks divide 1–3 times and bear three leaves or further stalks. Leaflets are three-lobed and have rounded teeth on their outer edge. The plant has 5–8 white, drooping flowers measuring 25–30 mm in diameter, with upright, slightly curved spurs.

Distribution

Aquilegia barbaricina is endemic to east-central Sardinia and grows in alder scrub along water courses at 1300-1400 m in altitude. Its natural habitats are Mediterranean shrubby vegetation and shrub-dominated wetlands. It is now thought to survive only in a few places in a deep, wooded wetland valley on .

Taxonomy

The species forms a monophyletic clade with the other columbine species endemic to Corsica and Sardinia, Aquilegia bernardii, Aquilegia litardierei, Aquilegia nugorensis and Aquilegia nuragica.

Etymology

The specific name barbaricina refers to the Barbagia region of eastern Sardinia, where the species is found.

Conservation

The species is almost extinct due to habitat loss and unsustainable collecting. It is an IUCN Red List Critically Endangered plant species and IUCN Top 50 Campaign Mediterranean Island Plant.

References

References

1. (2013). "Spatiotemporal reconstruction of the ''Aquilegia'' rapid radiation through next-generation sequencing of rapidly evolving cpDNA regions". New Phytologist.
2. "''Aquilegia barbaricina'' Arrigoni & E.Nardi". GBIF Secretariat.
3. Camarda, I.. (2006). "''Aquilegia barbaricina''".
4. "Aquilegia barbaricina". [[IUCN Species Survival Commission]].
5. (2005). "The Top 50 Mediterranean Island Plants: Wild plants at the brink of extinction, and what is needed to save them". IUCN/SSC Mediterranean Islands Plant Specialist Group.
6. "''Aquilegia barbaricina'' Arrigoni & E.Nardi".