Species of Aquilegia Growing in Utah and in Adjacent Portions of Colorado, Idaho and Arizona

Abstract

During the seasons of 1907-09, while botanizing on the Uncompahgre Plateau, Western Colorado, in the Wasatch Mountains, Central Utah, and on the Kaibab Plateau, Northern Arizona, I collected a number of Aquilegiae, which proved of particular interest especially so far as the distribution of the species is concerned. Of the species listed by Dr. Rydberg for Colorado, I observed particularly A. coerulea, A. elegantula and A. micrantha. The first mentioned appears to be not only the most widely distributed species but has.also the distinction of being the State flower of Colorado. It occurs throughout Colorado at the higher elevations, usually at 2400 m. and upwards and is very abundant in places on the Uncompahgre Plateau, where I have observed it. This handsome species was first mentioned by James (Long's Expedition, 2:15, 1823) and later described by Doctor Torrey (Ann. Lyc. N. Y. 2:164, 1828). It is readily recognized by its large bi-colored flowers, the sepals being light blue, the petals blue and white. It was illustrated by Hooker (Bot. Mag. 90 :t. 5477, 1864), and is too well known to require a description here. In the Wasatch Mountains we find a white form growing under practically the same conditions as the Colorado plant and differing in no particular from the latter except in the color of the sepals. It was first noticed by Nuttall and described by him under the name A. leptocera (Nutt. in Journ. Acad. Sc. Phila. 7:9, 1834) and also illustrated' by Hooker (Bot. Mag. t. 4407, 1848),. It was described by Doctor Gray -as A. coerulea var. albiflora (Robinson, Gray Syn. Fl. 1:44 1895). At first I thought the Utah form merited recognition as a species but on August 27, 1908, while botanizing on the slopes of Mount Terrell, Central Utah, I met with typical A. coerulea growing with the typical Utah form and varying in-