Aquilegia blecicii, common name Blečić's columbine,[2] is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to the Balkans.
| Aquilegia blecicii | |
|---|---|
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| Isotype specimen of Aquilegia blecicii in Kew Herbarium | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Ranunculaceae |
| Genus: | Aquilegia |
| Species: | A. blecicii
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| Binomial name | |
| Aquilegia blecicii A.Podob.
| |
Description
editThe species grows to 20–80 cm (7.9–31.5 in) tall. It has one or two hairy stems bearing 2–6 bicoloured white and pale blue to violet flowers measuring 50–90 mm (2.0–3.5 in) in diameter, with straight spurs of 14–22 mm (0.55–0.87 in) in length, slightly curved at the end. The leaves are long, greyish and three-lobed, covered with soft hairs and measuring 20–40 mm (0.79–1.57 in) across.[2]
Taxonomy
editThe plant's status as a separate species from Aquilegia nigricans is considered doubtfully valid by some authorities.[3]
Etymology
editThe specific name blecicii honours the Montenegrin botanist Vilotije Blečić (1911–1981).[2]
Distribution and habitat
editThe species is native to mountainous[4] regions of Serbia, Kosovo,[5][4] and Montenegro.[3] It grows on humid mild limestone slopes ranging between the submontane and the subalpine belts,[6] at altitudes of 1,600–2,200 m (5,200–7,200 ft).[2]
Ecology
editAquilegia blecicii plays an important role in its typical local plant community, which is dominated by herbaceous species such as the blue sow thistle Cicerbita pancicii, the herbaceous layer reaching 150–200 cm (59–79 in) in height and covering 95–100% of the ground. This plant community is found in areas with negligible human impact.[6]
Conservation
editThe species is rated as Data deficient in the IUCN Red List,[1] but is nationally protected in Serbia and Kosovo.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b Berisha, Naim; Bytyqi, Valbon (2021). "The correlation between plant endemism and biogeographic factors – a case study from Leqinat Mt., Kosovo". Flora Mediterranea. 31: 59–70. doi:10.7320/FlMedit31.059.
- ^ a b c d Meyer, Thomas; Hassler, Michael (2024). "Aquilegia". Mittelmeer- und Alpenflora. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
- ^ a b "Aquilegia blecicii A.Podob". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ a b c Tomović, Gordana; Niketić, Marjan; Lakušić, Dmitar; Ranđelović, Vladimir; Stevanović, Vladimir (2014). "Balkan endemic plants in Central Serbia and Kosovo regions: distribution patterns, ecological characteristics, and centres of diversity". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 176 (2): 173–202. doi:10.1111/boj.12197.
- ^ "Aquilegia blecicii A.Podob". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ a b Lakušić, Dmitar; Ranđelović, Vladimir; Di Pietro, Romeo (2015). "Nomenclature adjustments to neglected syntaxa of the tall-herb hygrophilous communities of the SE-Europe". Periodicum Biologorum. 117 (3): 383–397. doi:10.18054/pb.2015.117.3.3141.