Viola bertolonii
Encyclopedia
Viola bertolonii is a species of violet known by the common name Bertoloni's Pansy, belonging to the Violaceae
family.
(1775 -1869).
, as its overwintering buds are situated just below the soil surface and the floral axis is more or less erect with a few leaves. It has a particularly low chromosome number (2n = 20) and possibly dates back to the late Tertiary
.
Viola bertolonii is a rare herbaceous
perennial plant with a prostrate
-ascending
stem about 5–15 cm (2–5.9 ) high. The basal leaves are small, from round to oval, with an elongated petiole
, while the upper leaves are linear and narrow, with pinnate
stipules. The large blue-violet flowers have a corolla of about 2–4 cm (0.78740157480315–1.6 ) wide. The flowering period extends from April through June.
(possibly) and in north western Italy
, in the Apennines of Liguria
(Regional Park of Monte Beigua
, Piani di Praglia
, Monte Pracaban
, Monte Leco
, Punta Martin
) and Piedmont
(Natural Park of Capanne di Marcarolo).
in mountain evironments in meadows and rocky slopes, at an altitude of 600–1000 m (1,968.5–3,280.8 ) above sea level.
Violaceae
Violaceae are a family of flowering plants consisting of about 800 species in 21 genera. It takes its name from the genus Viola, the violets and pansies.Older classifications such as the Cronquist system placed Violaceae in an order named after it, the Violales...
family.
Etymology
The genus name, derived from the Latin word “viere” meaning “to tie”, possibly refers to the flexuosity of these plants. The species epithet honors the Italian botanist Antonio BertoloniAntonio Bertoloni
Antonio Bertoloni was an Italian botanist who made extensive studies of Italian plants. He also collected notable samples of Central American flora.- References :...
(1775 -1869).
Description
The biological form of Viola bertolonii is hemicryptophyte scaposeGlossary of botanical terms
Many of the terms used in Wikipedia glossaries are already defined and explained within Wikipedia itself. However, lists like the following indicate where new articles need to be written and are also useful for looking up and comparing large numbers of terms together.This glossary is incomplete;...
, as its overwintering buds are situated just below the soil surface and the floral axis is more or less erect with a few leaves. It has a particularly low chromosome number (2n = 20) and possibly dates back to the late Tertiary
Tertiary
The Tertiary is a deprecated term for a geologic period 65 million to 2.6 million years ago. The Tertiary covered the time span between the superseded Secondary period and the Quaternary...
.
Viola bertolonii is a rare herbaceous
Herbaceous
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
perennial plant with a prostrate
Glossary of botanical terms
Many of the terms used in Wikipedia glossaries are already defined and explained within Wikipedia itself. However, lists like the following indicate where new articles need to be written and are also useful for looking up and comparing large numbers of terms together.This glossary is incomplete;...
-ascending
Glossary of botanical terms
Many of the terms used in Wikipedia glossaries are already defined and explained within Wikipedia itself. However, lists like the following indicate where new articles need to be written and are also useful for looking up and comparing large numbers of terms together.This glossary is incomplete;...
stem about 5–15 cm (2–5.9 ) high. The basal leaves are small, from round to oval, with an elongated petiole
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
, while the upper leaves are linear and narrow, with pinnate
Pinnate
Pinnate is a term used to describe feather-like or multi-divided features arising from both sides of a common axis in plant or animal structures, and comes from the Latin word pinna meaning "feather", "wing", or "fin". A similar term is pectinate, which refers to a comb-like arrangement of parts...
stipules. The large blue-violet flowers have a corolla of about 2–4 cm (0.78740157480315–1.6 ) wide. The flowering period extends from April through June.
Distribution
It is an endemic with a quite restricted distribution range. It is only present in south eastern FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
(possibly) and in north western Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, in the Apennines of Liguria
Liguria
Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and good food.-Geography:...
(Regional Park of Monte Beigua
Monte Beigua
Monte Beigua is a mountain in the Ligurian Apennines in Liguria, northern Italy, between the two communes of Varazze and Sassello...
, Piani di Praglia
Piani di Praglia
Piani di Praglia is a mountain in Liguria, northern Italy, part of the Ligurian Appennines.-References:...
, Monte Pracaban
Monte Pracaban
Monte Pracaban is a mountain in the Valle Stura, Liguria, northern Italy, part of the Ligurian Appennines.It is located on the boundary between the comune of Campo Ligure in Liguria, and that of Bosio in Piedmont.-References:...
, Monte Leco
Monte Leco
Monte Leco is a mountain in Liguria, northern Italy, part of the Ligurian Appennines. It is located in the provinces of Genoa and Alessandria. It lies at an altitude of 1071 metres.-References:...
, Punta Martin
Punta Martin
Punta Martin is a mountain in Liguria, northern Italy, part of the Ligurian Appennines. It is located in the province of Genoa. It lies at an altitude of 1001 metres.-References:...
) and Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
(Natural Park of Capanne di Marcarolo).
Habitat
The species is strictly associated with ultramafic serpentine substrates. It grows on ophiolitesOphiolites
An ophiolite is a section of the Earth's oceanic crust and the underlying upper mantle that has been uplifted and exposed above sea level and often emplaced onto continental crustal rocks...
in mountain evironments in meadows and rocky slopes, at an altitude of 600–1000 m (1,968.5–3,280.8 ) above sea level.
Subspecies
- Viola bertolonii subsp. bertolonii
- Viola bertolonii subsp. messanensis