[1.8] Viola sect. Sempervivum

Viola sect. Sempervivum J. M.Watson & A. R. Flores 

in Watson et al., Viola Subgenus Andinium: 188. 2021.

Type species: Viola atropurpurea Leyb., Anales Univ. Chile 15: 158-159. 1858.

Diagnostic characters.—Perennial or annual subacaulous, glabrous, imbricated rosetteforming herbs. Lamina entire or shallowly subcrenulate, apex acute to obtuse.

Ploidy and accepted chromosome counts: Unknown; gene homoeolog numbers indicate allopolyploidy in some species (T.M., unpubl.).

Age.—Crown node c. 13.3 Ma; stem node c. 20.3 Ma

Included species.—35

Viola abbreviata J. M. Watson & A. R. Flores, 

V. aizoon Reiche,

V. atropurpurea Leyb., 

V. auricolor Skottsb., 

V. bangii Rusby, 

V. beckeriana J. M.Watson & A. R. Flores, 

V. columnaris Skottsb., 

V. comberi W. Becker, 

V. coronifera W. Becker, 

V. cotyledon Ging., 

V. cupuliformis H. E. Ballard, ined. [T. Hofreiter & T. Franke 1/104], 

V. dasyphylla W. Becker, 

V. hieronymi W. Becker, 

Viola imbricata K.Menegoz & J.L.Celis-Diez, 

V. leyboldiana Phil., 

V. lologensis (W. Becker) J. M. Watson,

V. marcelae, ined., 

V. micranthella Wedd., 

V. nigriflora H. E. Ballard, ined. [T. Hofreiter & T. Franke 1/103], 

V. nobilis W. Becker, 

V. obituaria J. M. Watson & A. R. Flores, 

V. pachysoma M. Sheader & J. M. Watson, 

V. petraea W. Becker, 

V. polycephala H. E. Ballard & P. Jørg.,

V. portulacea Leyb., 

V. pusillima Wedd., 

V. pygmaea Juss. ex Poir., 

V. regina J. M. Watson & A. R. Flores, 

V. rossowiana J. M. Watson & A. R. Flores, 

V. sacculus Skottsb., 

V. santiagonensis W. Becker, 

V. sempervivum Gay, 

V. skottsbergiana W. Becker, 

V. turritella J. M. Watson & A. R. Flores, 

V. vortex, ined.

Distribution.—The full range of the section is commensurate with that of the subgenus, extending from the Ecuador to southern Patagonia. Its centre of diversity occurs at Andean elevations between central Argentina and Chile in the north and northern Patagonia together with near-southern Chile, rarely descending to subandean levels. 

Note : We have given those that range from Andean central Argentina and Chile southwards the informal name of sempervivoids from which the section name above is derived. It describes their similarity of form and texture to the genus Sempervivum (Crassulaceae).

1. Marcussen, T. et al. A Revised Phylogenetic Classification for Viola (Violaceae). Plants 11, 2224 (2022). p. 41

2. Watson, J.M., Flores, A.R., Nicola, M.V. & Marcussen, T. (2022) Viola subgenus Neoandinium, Preliminary Monograph. International Rock Gardener: Glasgow, UK, pp. 188-189. [https://www.srgc.net/documents/publications/Viola%20monograph.pdf]

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