Viola pedata L. var. cuneatiloba (Brainerd & Fernald) H.E.Ballard, ined.
Common names:
Squirrel Corn Bird's-foot Violet
Synonyms:
Viola pedata L. f. cuneatiloba Brainerd ex Fernald, Rhodora 51: 56, pl. 1136, fig. 3. 1949. TYPE: USA, West Virginia, Greenbrier Co., Kate's Mountain, near White Sulphur Springs, 3300 feet, J. K. Small s.n. (holotype: GH00067145!, JSTOR Global Plants image!).
Description:
Smaller leaf blades pedate-pinnatifid or biternately divided, largest leaf blades triternately divided, ultimate segments very narrowly linear. Other features are identical to the species.
Ecology:
Same as the species.
Distribution:
Central Appalachian Mountains and adjacent eastern Piedmont, sw. NJ and se. PA to w. MD, south to w.-c. VA and se. WV.
Rarity:
None.
Phenology:
Presumably same as the species.
Affinities:
Same as the species.
Hybrids:
None.
Comments:
This regional endemic was synonymized under V. pedata without recognition following Fernald's description as a form. Specimens are common throughout the narrow regional distribution noted, suggesting that an ecological or physiological component may have been involved in the evolution of the taxon, or perhaps the ancestral population originated in a small geographic area or "refugium" before dispersing. Varietal status seems appropriate. The much-dissected leaf blades superficially resemble Squirrel Corn (Dicentra canadensis), prompting the common name proposed here. See V. pedata sensu lato for comments regarding the nomenclatural origin of this taxon. Although a substantial number of collections have been confirmed, this taxon is poorly known, and photographs are unavailable; it should be sought in its narrow region of distribution.
Literature Cited:
None.
Chasmogamous flowering habit from herbarium specimen: WV, Greenbrier Co., Kate's Mountain, J. K. Small s.n. (part of holotype of V. pedataf. cuneatiloba Brainerd ex Fernald)
Map of varieties of V. pedata by Harvey Ballard, with var. pedata adapted from Russell (1965)