Aquilegia formosa var. truncata
Gard. Chron., ser. 2, 10: 111. 1878.
EndemicIllustrated
Basionym: Aquilegia truncata Fischer & Meyer in F. E. L. von Fischer et al., Index Sem. Hort. Petrop. 9, suppl.: 8. 1844
Synonyms: Aquilegia formosa var. pauciflora (Greene) Munz
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 3.
Stems and petioles glabrous or sparsely pilose, not viscid. Flowers: sepals 10-20 mm, 0.7-1.1 times as long as spurs; petal blades 0-3 mm. 2n = 14.
Phenology: Flowering spring–summer (Apr–Aug).
Habitat: Mesic woods or shrublands
Elevation: 0-3500 m
Distribution
Calif., Nev., Oreg.
Discussion
Aquilegia formosa var. truncata replaces A. formosa var. formosa from the Sierra Nevada westward. The two varieties intergrade where they come together.
The common form of Aquilegia formosa var. truncata is 50-100 cm, with well-developed stem leaves. Montane forms with short stems and very small stem leaves are often separated as A. formosa var. pauciflora. Similar dwarf montane races with the floral characters of A. formosa var. formosa occur in the Pacific Northwest; these have never been separated taxonomically.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
None.