| Aquilegia kanawarensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Ranunculaceae |
| Genus: | Aquilegia |
| Species: | A. kanawarensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Aquilegia kanawarensis | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Aquilegia kanawarensis is aperennialflowering plant in the familyRanunculaceae,[1] native to northern Pakistan and the Western Himalayas.[1]
Aquilegia kanawarensis is a perennialherbaceous plant with a thick, branched root and a short, erect stem covered inglandular-pubescent hairs. The leaves arebiternate or triternate (i.e. having three segments, each of which is biternate) and pubescent on both sides, with long stalks. The flowers are nodding and have oblong, downy, pale violetsepals. Thepetals are shorter than the sepals, egg-shaped, and pale yellow-white or ochre-white in colour, with straightnectar spurs. Thestamens are shorter than the petals, and theanthers are oblong.[2]
Aquilegia kanawarensis was formally described by the French botanist Jacques Cambessèdes in 1841 from an initial description made by his compatriot Victor Jacquemont, who collected thetype specimen from a rock fissure at around 3,500 m (11,500 ft) altitude inKinnaur district inHimachal Pradesh, and additional specimens from the Gombour estate on the Kashmiri border with Tibet.[2]
Thespecific epithetkanawarensis means "of or from Kinnaur" (speltKanaor in the original species description), referring to the district where the species was first found.[2]
Aquilegia kanawarensis is native to the subalpine zone of the Western Himalayas in Pakistan and India.[1] It grows in rock fissures and humid grassy areas at elevations around 3,000–3,500 m (9,800–11,500 ft).[2]
As of February 2025[update], the species has not been assessed for theIUCN Red List.[3]
Aquilegia kanawarensis flowers in August.[2]
In the Theeing and Parishing valleys ofAstore District in Pakistan-administeredGilgit-Baltistan,Aquilegia kanawarensis is known asshash and valued as anornamental plant. It is also used medicinally in these areas as adecoction to induce perspiration, promote urination, treat urinary tract infections, combat parasites, and as anastringent and a purifying agent.[4][5]
