Jones’ Columbine

Rare Plant Profile – Jones’ Columbine (Aquilegia jonesii Parry)

Jones’ columbine (Aquilegia jonesii Parry) is a dwarf perennial herb in the Ranunculaceae Family[1]. It is the smallest of all columbines, capping its height at ~12 cm, an adaptation that allows it to survive in the harsh alpine and subalpine environments within which it is found. This plant has a low-growing cushion-like growth form and relatively larger, showy purple flowers[2]. Its crowded, compound leaves are finely hairy, greyish in colour with a thin, waxy coating on both surfaces, and blades rarely over 1 centimeter in length[3]. Its spurred flowers are erect, with 5 deep blue or purple sepals and 5 often whitish petals[4]. Its nectar-producing spurs attract pollinators including moths and bumble bees[5],[6]. A floral nectar spur is an example of a key innovation, a novel feature that allows an organism to exploit its environment in unique ways that may lead to increased diversification rates[7]. Floral nectar spurs can increase diversification rates because of their ability to attract specialized pollinators[8]. In columbines, the nectar spurs attract long- tongued pollinators that can reach the nectar stored at the spur tips[9].

In Canada, Jones’ columbine is restricted to rocky limestone sites in the Alpine and Subalpine Natural Subregions of Alberta[10]. The conservation status rank of Jones’ columbine is G3, or Vulnerable, globally, N1 or Critically Imperiled nationally, and S1, or Critically Imperiled provincially[11]. These rankings are due to the very limited range of the plant[12] and because of its limited number of occurrences globally, as well as within Alberta.

Photo by L. Allen
Photo by L. Allen

[1] https://www.albertaparks.ca/albertaparksca/management-land-use/alberta-conservation-information-management-system-acims/download-data/

[2] https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/beauty/columbines/aquilegia_jonesii.shtml

[3] Kershaw, L.; Gould, J.; Johnson, D.; Lancaster, J. 2001. Rare vascular plants of Alberta. Univ. Alberta Press, Edmonton, Alberta and Nat. Resour. Can., Can. For. Serv., North. For. Cent., Edmonton, Alberta

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] https://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=PDRAN050D0

[7] https://www.pnas.org/content/117/36/22552

[8] Ibid.

[9] Kershaw, L.; Gould, J.; Johnson, D.; Lancaster, J. 2001. Rare vascular plants of Alberta. Univ. Alberta Press, Edmonton, Alberta and Nat. Resour. Can., Can. For. Serv., North. For. Cent., Edmonton, Alberta

[10] https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.155495/Aquilegia_jonesii

[11] Ibid.

[12] http://www.efloras.org/object_page.aspx?object_id=5568&flora_id=1