Viola langsdorffii |
Viola clauseniana |
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Alaska violet, Aleutian violet, Langsdorff's violet, violette de Langsdorff |
Clausen's violet |
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Habit | Plants perennial, caulescent, not stoloniferous, 2–30 cm. | Plants perennial, acaulescent, not stoloniferous, 3–20 cm; rhizome short, slender, fleshy. |
Stems | 1–3, ascending to erect, usually glabrous, from shallow, fleshy rhizome. |
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Leaves | basal and cauline; basal: 2–3; stipules broadly ovate to deltate or long-lanceolate, margins often glandular (glands sessile or stalked), apex acute; petiole 0.8–21 cm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent; blade ovate to reniform, 0.9–5.8 × 1–6 cm, base cordate to ± truncate, margins crenate to crenate-serrulate, usually eciliate, apex rounded or acute to usually obtuse, surfaces glabrous or sparsely pubescent on adaxial veins, seldom on abaxial veins; cauline similar to basal except: stipules broadly ovate to lanceolate-oblong or deltate, apex acute to acuminate; petiole 2.2–12.1 cm; blade 1.9–4.2 × 1.8–5.9 cm. |
basal, 2–10, often prostrate, sometimes ascending; stipules narrowly lanceolate, margins faintly glandular-toothed, apex acute or obtuse; petiole 5–11 cm, glabrous; blade unlobed, ± deltate, 3–5 × 4–5 cm, base ± truncate, margins serrate, ciliate or eciliate, apex obtuse, surfaces usually glabrous, sometimes sparsely pubescent abaxially. |
Peduncles | 2.2–20.7 cm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent. |
8–14 cm, glabrous. |
Flowers | sepals lanceolate to ovate, margins eciliate, auricles 0.5–1.5 mm; petals light to deep violet on both surfaces, lower 3 white basally and light to deep violet-veined, lateral 2 bearded, lowest 12–24 mm, spur white to violet, gibbous to elongated, 2–5 mm, usually less than 1/2 lowest petal, tip straight; style head usually beardless, sometimes bearded; cleistogamous flowers axillary. |
sepals lanceolate to ovate, margins eciliate or ciliate around auricles, auricles 1–2 mm; petals light violet on both surfaces, lower 3 purple-veined, all beardless, lowest petal 8–20 mm, spur white, gibbous, 2–3 mm; style head beardless; cleistogamous flowers on prostrate to ascending peduncles. |
Capsules | ovoid to oblong, 7.5–13 mm, glabrous. |
oblong, 8–10 mm, glabrous. |
Seeds | dark olive to ± black, 2.5–2.8 mm. |
dark brown to black, 1.2–2 mm. |
2n | = 12. |
= 44. |
Viola langsdorffii |
Viola clauseniana |
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Phenology | Flowering Apr–Aug. | Flowering Apr–Jun. |
Habitat | Swamps, bogs, fens, wet meadows, stream banks, rocky slopes, usually near coast | Hanging gardens, seeps, springs, shady areas |
Elevation | 0–1500 m (0–4900 ft) | 1600 m (5200 ft) |
Distribution |
AK; CA; OR; WA; BC; YT; Asia
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UT |
Discussion | Viola simulata and V. superba are closely related to V. langsdorffii (L. Abrams and R. S. Ferris 1923–1960, vol. 3). They were treated by C. L. Hitchcock et al. (1955–1969, vol. 3) as synonymous with V. langsdorffii pending further study. E. Brainerd (1921) stated that Viola langsdorffii presents an interesting transition between the caulescent and acaulescent violets. Plants of the species are reported from Winchester Grade in Idaho (Gail s.n., 1931, ID); verification is needed. Viola langsdorffii is reported to have fleshy rhizomes. Plants in Del Norte County, California, have fleshy rhizomes near the soil surface, but these are connected to deeper, subligneous rhizomes. The style in some populations of Viola langsdorffii is reported to be sometimes bearded (G. W. Douglas et al. 1998–2002, vol. 5; W. J. Cody 2000). Illustrations in V. B. Baird (1942; location of plant unknown) and M. S. Baker (1936; a plant from Alaska) show a beardless style; L. Abrams and R. S. Ferris (1923–1960, vol. 3) and C. L. Hitchcock et al. (1955–1969, vol. 3) reported that the style head was beardless. Styles are beardless in plants occurring in Del Norte County, California. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Of conservation concern. Viola clauseniana is endemic to Zion National Park, Washington County. M. S. Baker reported that its seeds were minutely roughed, a characteristic not recorded for other Viola species. Viola clauseniana was originally thought to be closely related to the acaulescent blue violets, most notably V. nephrophylla (S. L. Welsh et al. 1987; L. E. McKinney 1992). After contemplating the 2n = 44 chromosome count obtained by J. Clausen (1964), H. E. Ballard (pers. comm.) suggested that V. clauseniana might be more closely related with the stemless white violets (for example, V. blanda) than with V. nephrophylla. Viola clauseniana was considered a distinct species by N. H. Holmgren (2005d) and T. Marcussen and T. Karlsson (2010). (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 6, p. 136. | FNA vol. 6, p. 128. |
Parent taxa | Violaceae > Viola | Violaceae > Viola |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | V. simulata, V. superba | |
Name authority | Fischer ex Gingins: in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 1: 296. (1824) | M. S. Baker: Madroño 4: 194. (1938) |
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