Semiaquilegia adoxoides

Semiaquilegia adoxoides is a species of perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae. The species is native to Japan, Korea, and China, Now often considered the sole member of the genus Semiaquilegia, it bears similarities to members of the genus Aquilegia. S. adoxoides is native to China, Korea, and Japan and has an introduced population on Taiwan.

Semiaquilegia adoxoides
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Ranunculales
Family:	Ranunculaceae
Genus:	Semiaquilegia
Species:	S. adoxoides
Binomial name
Semiaquilegia adoxoides (DC.) Makino
Synonyms[1]
Isopyrum adoxoides DC. Aquilegia adoxoides (DC.) Ohwi

S. adoxoides can grow to about 40 cm (16 in) tall. The plant produces flowers that are usually white with purple tinging. Blooms occurs in March and April.

Description

Semiaquilegia adoxoides is a perennial herb in the genus Semiaquilegia in the family Ranunculaceae.^[1][2] Its tuberous roots can be 1 cm (0.39 in) to 2 cm (0.79 in) long and 3 mm (0.12 in) to 6 mm (0.24 in) in diameter.^[2]

The plant flowers in March and April. The flowers are between 4 mm (0.16 in) and 6 mm (0.24 in) in diameter. The flowers extend from the inflorescence on pubescent pedicels that are between 1 cm (0.39 in) and 2.5 cm (0.98 in) long. The five petaloid sepals are generally white with purple tinging. The sepals have dimensions of 4 mm (0.16 in) to 6 mm (0.24 in) long and 1.2 mm (0.047 in) to 2.5 mm (0.098 in) wide. There are five spatulate petals on each flower.^[2]

All members of Semiaquilegia are hermaphroditic.^[3] Fruiting occurs in S. adoxoides during April and May. Plants of the genus produce seeds in divergent follicles. The seeds are densely rugose (wrinkly) and colored brown to black-brown. Each seed is about 1 mm (0.039 in) long.^[2]

Taxonomy

The species was first described as a member of the genus Isopyrum by the Swiss botanist Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1818.^[4]: 46 In 1902, the Japanese botanist Tomitaro Makino segregated the genus Semiaquilegia and reclassified the species as Semiaquilegia adoxoides.^{[4]: 45–46 [1]} In 1946, the American botanist Philip A. Munz rejected Makino's identification of Semiaquilegia as a distinct genus and reassigned the species to Isopyrum.^[5][4]: 46 Despite this, S. adoxoides remains accepted as the name for the species and is sometimes considered the sole example of the genus.^{[4]: 46–47 [1]}

Distribution

Semiaquilegia adoxoides is considered native to central and southeastern China, Korea, and Japan. The species has an introduced population on Taiwan.^[1]

Cultivation

In 1946, Munz observed that S. adoxoides (which he considered an Isopyrum) was occasionally sold by nurseymen for cultivation in the United States, though these plants were erroneously labeled as Aquilegia ecalcarata.^[5]