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.