Viola patrinii DC.
Common names:
None in English.
Synonyms (incomplete):
Viola patrinii DC., Prodr. 1: 293. 1824
Description:
Acaulescent rosulate perennials from somewhat thick rhizome, ≤ 20 cm tall; foliage glabrous or puberulent, peduncles and calyces green, plant glabrous throughout; stipules adnate to petiole for up to 2/3 their length, entire to remotely denticulate; petioles long and prominently winged; leaves erect, leaf blades undivided, largest ≤ 60 × 20 mm, narrowly lance-triangular to narrowly elliptical, base broadly cuneate or truncate to shallowly cordate with short divergent basal lobes, margins subentire to shallowly crenate, eciliate, apex acuminate to a narrowly rounded tip; chasmogamous peduncle held among leaves; chasmogamous flower ca. 10 mm; calyx glabrous, eciliate; lowest sepals lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, acute to slightly obtuse; auricles short and rounded, not elongating in fruit; corolla white, throat white; spur cylindrical, ca. 3 mm, white; lateral petals densely bearded; chasmogamous and cleistogamous capsule not reported; seeds yellow-brown to dark brown; 2n=12, 24, 36.
Similar species:
This species and others most similar to it are members of the predominately Asian subsect. Patellares, which consists of acaulescent non-stoloniferous violets with stipules at least half-adnate to their petioles, somewhat to very elongate spurs, and usually violet to purple corollas (this species produces white flowers). Three species in the subsection that are introduced in our range, including this one, have leaf blades longer than broad. This species differs from V. japonica in its glabrous or puberulent foliage, prominent wings on the petioles, white corolla with much shorter spur, and densely bearded lateral petals. It is distinct from V. inconspicua in the prominent wings on the petioles, entire to denticulate stipules, white corolla with slightly shorter spur, and yellow to brown seeds.
Ecology:
Marshy to moist open places, and shaded forest edges in its native range (Chen et al. 2007); recently introduced into suburban plantings and pavement cracks in our region.
Distribution:
Widespread as a native in boreal and temperate eastern Asia; introduced to Costa Rica, Jamaica and the northeastern U.S.
Rarity:
None.
Phenology:
Chasmogamous flower May-June, fruit June-Septempber in its native range (Chen et al. 2007).
Affinities:
This species belongs to sect. Plagiostigma Godron, subsect. Patellares (Boiss.) Rouy & Foucaud.
Hybrids:
None.
Comments:
Despite previous reports using the name Viola patrinii, the localities reported here are the first confirmed in North America. The description was composed mostly from Chen et al. (2007), and a few iNaturalist images.
Literature Cited:
Chen, Y. S., Y. Quin-er, H. Ohba, and V. V. Nikitin. 2007. Violaceae. In Flora of China. Science Press, Beijing and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, Missouri, Vol. 13, pp. 74–111.
Cleistogamous fruiting habit from iNaturalist post: NY, Brooklyn Bridge Park, 28 Jul 2022, "er-birds" (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/128326824)
Cleistogamous fruit from iNaturalist post: NY, Brooklyn Bridge Park, 28 Jul 2022, "er-birds" (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/128326824)
Map by Biota of North America Program