Aquilegia-atrata_1

Description:

Aquilegia atrata Koch, syn.: Aquilegia vulgaris subsp. atrata (W. D. J. Koch) Nyman, Aquilegia vulgaris var. atroviolacea Av-Lall.Family: RanunculaceaeEN: Columbine, Granny's Bonnet, Lions Herb, DE: Schwartzviolette Akelei, Dunkle AkeleiSlo.: rnikastovijolina orlica Dat.: April 27. 2007Lat.: 46.25557 Long.: 13.46723Code: Bot_0182/2007_DSC6748Habitat: overgrown former grassland among bushes and scattered trees; moderately inclined mountain slope, south aspect; partly in shade; elevation 490 m (1.600 feet); average precipitations 2.600-3.000 mm/year, average temperature 9-10 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil.Place: 'Breginski kot' valley, above the main road from town Kobarid to Breginj, between villages Borjana and Stanovie, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC.Comment: As explained in my post about Aquilegia nigricans, the determination of species within Aquilegia vulgaris / atrata / nigricans group is not an easy task in many cases. Intermediate forms are very common. With this find short glandular hairs on flower petioles, narrow bracts and quite dark color of the flowers, which doesn't show bluish tint but rather brown ones speak in favor of Aquilegia atrata. The shape of the second order leaflets appears mostly ovate (inverse egg-shaped), however, many seem also cuneate (with wedge-shaped basis), which pertains to Aquilegia nigricans. Therefore, my determination may not be completely accurate.Ref.:(1) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora fr sterreich, Liechtenstein und Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 267.(2) A. Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007), p 147. (3) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1,2., Haupt (2004), p 186.(4) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 142.