I came across this splendid Viola growing in a clump of grass, in an otherwise arid mountain valley. Although I have a forked stick with me at all times and use it to prod around the plant before picking the plant, this time I preferred not to reach the basal leaf ground level. As this area is known as a prefered living area for vipers, mainly the Vipera Aspis, I prefer to play safe. I am not sure whether this Viola is aethnensis subsp. splendida, or, Viola pseudogracilis. Both these species are to be found in the area where I live. Hope a member can help.
Viola aethnensis (probably, should be "aetnensis") should have hairy leaves: http://www.actaplantarum.org/acta/galleria1.php?id=1627 Cannot say anything about Viola pseudogracilis, it is poorely represented at the base: http://www.actaplantarum.org/acta/galleria1.php?id=1290 In your picture, the leaves look grabrous. Could possibly be something different from these two. Unfortunately, I do not have a key to the european Viola species, and so cannot tell anything more.
This is probably one of disputed terms. Originally, it was rather "aetnensis": http://books.google.com/books?id=hM...HUQ6AEwDA#v=onepage&q=viola aetnensis&f=false Sometimes later, there was a split. Flora Europaea returns 4 species with "aethnensis": http://193.62.154.38/cgi-bin/nph-re...ECIES_XREF=+aethnensis&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK= and 8 species with "aethnensis": http://193.62.154.38/cgi-bin/nph-re...PECIES_XREF=+aetnensis&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK= GRIN uses "Viola aethnensis" The Plant List uses "Viola aetnensis" I don't know Latin, but logically "Viola dell'Etna" should be "Viola aetnensis". This "h" after "t" always puzzles me...
There isn't a universal 'right' or 'wrong' for the spelling of a species name in a case like this, it depends in each case what spelling the describing author used. When Frédéric Charles Jean Gingins de la Sarraz first described this violet from Etna, he called it Viola calcarata L. var. aethnensis, with an 'h', and that spelling has to be continued with when treating it at that rank (i.e., as a variety). When Gabriel Strobl raised it from variety to species rank as Viola aethnensis, he did have the option to remove the 'h', but (sensibly) chose not to, to preserve the original spelling. Hope Duffy won't mind this digression into nomenclature!
Not at all Michael, most informative and interesting. Concerning Viola calcarata, prof. Sandro Pignatti, author/compiler of the 3 volume work entitled "Flora d'Italia" has indicated that Viola calcarata is indigenous to the north eastern and central alps, including the Settentrional/Settentrionale appenines. After some consideration. I came to the conclusion that this Viola could very well be Reichenbachiana. All three of these Viola are to be found in the area where I reside. What are your thoughts about the Reichenbachiana as a possible candidate?
Viola reichenbachiana does not seem to fit: - the leaves are wider and rounded - the stipules are much smaller
Hi Andrey, I have just received an email from the botanical gdns of the Univ. di Camerino. They cannot give a definite ID, although they suggested Viola arvensis. Once a year when I have accumulated some 20-30 unidentified plants I send a dvd with the photographs to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England. Without failure I get the ID for all. Thanks for your help. Best wishes, duffy
This may work. Although, Viola arvensis normally lighter in color, but it is quite a variable species.
This time I have sent the photos to my friend who is a botanist working in the Univ.Naples Botanical gardens. I previously sent them to my friend who is the master gardener of the first Bot.gdns.
