Viola emarginata [Kentucky variant]

Common names:

None.

Synonyms:

None.

Description:

Growth form, foliage and peduncle color and indument same as the species; petioles narrowly winged; leaf blade outline narrowly ovate-triangular, uniformly tapering from the widest point of the blade to a narrowly and sharply acute apex, all blades undivided; petal apices broadly rounded; spurred petal not laterally compressed in life; corolla color and other features as in the species; cleistogamous fruits and seeds unknown.

Similar species:

See Viola emarginata [species complex].

Ecology:

Dry sandy soils in oak and oak-pine woodlands, similar to phenotypes on the eastern Piedmont and upper Atlantic Coastal Plain.

Distribution:

Lower Midwest, s. OH and KY south to n. AL, s. AR and LA.

Rarity:

None.

Phenology:

Chasmogamous flower April-May, chasmogamous fruit April, cleistogamous fruit May.

Affinities:

Same as V. emarginata sensu lato.

Hybrids:

None.

Comments:

This regionally endemic variant has been misidentified and overlooked as undivided-leaved V. sagittata. It should be sought in mature cleistogamous fruit, which is currently unknown.

Literature Cited:

None.

 

Authored by Harvey Ballard on 24 March, 2020; last updated on 15 October, 2022.

Chasmogamous flowering habit from herbarium specimen: LA, Seale, E. Brainerd 47 (NY)

Chasmogamous flower profile view from herbarium specimen: LA, Seale, E. Brainerd 47 (NY)

Map by Biota of North America Program