Aquilegia chrysantha A. Gray:
United States (North America)

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: Endemic to Colorado (Fremont and El Paso counties). Estimated range is 495 square kilometers (191 square miles), calculated in GIS by drawing a minimum convex polygon around the known occurrences.

The Flora of North America (Vol. 3, 1997) states that Colorado populations have been called A. chrysantha var. rydbergii and does not mention New Mexico or Arizona. Reports from New Mexico and Arizona are probably erroneous, possibly originating because NM and AZ are listed in the range of var. rydbergii in the 1985 Notice of Review for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species. These reports have not otherwise been substantiated.

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Colorado populations supposedly having spurs only 35-40 mm have been called Aquilegia chrysantha var. rydbergii . Material seen from this area falls within the normal range of variation of the species. Populations intermediate between A . chrysantha and A . coerulea var. pinetorum occur in northern Arizona (M. Butterwick et al. 1991).

Stems 30-120 cm. Basal leaves 2-3×-ternately compound, 9-45 cm, much shorter than stems; leaflets green adaxially, to 11-55 mm, not viscid; primary petiolules 20-50 mm (leaflets not crowded), glabrous or distally pilose. Flowers erect; sepals perpendicular to floral axis, yellow, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 20-36 × 5-10 mm, apex narrowly acute or acuminate; petals: spurs yellow, straight, ± parallel or divergent, 42-65 mm, slender, evenly tapered from base, blades yellow, oblong, 13-23 × 6-15 mm; stamens 12-25 mm. Follicles 18-30 mm; beak 10-18 mm.

Aquilegia chrysantha var. rydbergii Munz

Comments: In mountains especially along streams or in rocky ravines. Elevation range is 5,500 to 6,000 ft (1,696 to 1,850 m).

Flowering spring-summer (Apr-Sep). Damp places in canyons; 1000-3500 m; Ariz., Colo., N.Mex., Tex., Utah; nw Mexico.

Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.

Estimated Number of Occurrences: 6 - 20

Comments: There are 10 principal occurrences documented in the Colorado Natural Heritage Program database. Three of the 10 occurrences have not been observed in over 20 years (as if 2006). The USFS Conservation Assessment also documents 10 occurrences (Ladyman 2005).

Flowers in June.

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 1
Species: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1

Rounded Global Status Rank: G4 - Apparently Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N1 - Critically Imperiled

Rounded Global Status Rank: T1 - Critically Imperiled

Reasons: The Colorado Natural Heritage Program considers this variety as limited to Colorado. There are 10 occurrences with an estimated number of individuals around 1,500. Recreational uses may threaten one or more of the occurrences. The Flora of North America (Vol. 3, 1997) questions the distinctiveness of the variety rydbergii, saying that material seen displays traits which fall within the normal variation for the species.

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N4 - Apparently Secure

Global Short Term Trend: Decline of 10-30%

Comments: Currently, the taxon appears to be fairly abundant within the Cheyenne Canyon-Bear Canyon-Cheyenne Mountain region (Ladyman 2005). Some sub-occurrences along Cheyenne Canyon may have been extirpated. For example, an occurrence was recorded in the Bear Creek Nature Center for several years prior to 1995, but no plants have been observed since 1996 (Ladyman 2005). Environmental conditions might have caused, or significantly contributed to, this loss. Snowpack in the winter of 1995-96 was substantial, and snowmelt caused considerable scouring of the river bank on which the Aquilegia plants were growing (Ladyman 2005).

Global Long Term Trend: Unknown

Comments: There are insufficient data to determine accurately the long-term population trend of this taxon. Within its range, one cannot say with certainty that this taxon has experienced a decline in the last century, but there has been considerable loss and fragmentation of habitat due to highway expansion, urbanization, and recreational use (Ladyman 2005).

Comments: Most vulnerable to habitat loss caused by activities associated with recreation (Ladyman 2005). Much of the habitat for this taxon has already been severely altered and degraded. Occupied habitat on the Pike-San Isabel National Forest is currently managed primarily for recreation; hiking, biking, and horse-riding trails go through the existing occurrences (Ladyman 2005). Habitat encroachment by invasive weeds and livestock grazing are other potential threats. Long-term population sustainability may be vulnerable to declines in pollinator populations. As urbanization encroaches upon natural habitat, introduction of horticultural varieties of A. chrysantha may also become a concern. These varieties could hybridize with the natural populations and thus cause genetic dilution (Ladyman 2005). This plant occurs on land managed by the USFS, Department of Defense, BLM, City of Colorado Springs, El Paso County, and private land. There are no plans that specifically address the management of this taxon.

Biological Research Needs: Need additional information on approximate total number of individuals and threats to this sub-species. No monitoring or demographic studies have been reported for this taxon.

Needs: Protect highest quality extant occurrences (Bear Creek or Cheyenne Mountain).

Comments: The Flora of North America (Vol. 3, 1997) questions the distinctiveness of the variety rydbergii, saying that material seen displays traits which fall within the normal variation for the species.