Aquilegia barbaricina

Aquilegia barbaricina, common name Barbaricina columbine,^[2] is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae. It is endemic to Italy, occurring only on the island of Sardinia.^[3]

Aquilegia barbaricina
Conservation status
Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Ranunculales
Family:	Ranunculaceae
Genus:	Aquilegia
Species:	A. barbaricina
Binomial name
Aquilegia barbaricina Arrigoni & E.Nardi

Description

Aquilegia barbaricina grows on a single stem to a height of 30–60 cm (12–24 in). 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 (1.0–1.2 in) in diameter, with upright, slightly curved spurs.^[4]

Distribution

Aquilegia barbaricina is endemic to east-central Sardinia and grows in alder scrub along water courses at 1,300–1,400 m (4,300–4,600 ft) in altitude. Its natural habitats are Mediterranean shrubby vegetation and shrub-dominated wetlands.^[4] It is now thought to survive only in a few places in a deep, wooded wetland valley on Monte Spada [it].^[5]

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.^[6]

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.^[1][5]