[1.9] Viola sect. Subandinium

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

in Watson et al., Viola Subg. Andinium: 193. 2021

Type species: Viola subandina J.M. Watson, Pl. Altoandinas Fl. Silv. Chile: 66. 1998.

Diagnostic characters.—Annual rosulate herbs. Lamina flexible, linear, oblanceolate or obovate, entire or shallowly long-crenulate.

Ploidy and accepted chromosome counts: Diploid 2x (Viola pusilla); no chromosome counts.

Age.— Crown node c. 4.8 Ma; stem node c. 13.9 Ma

Included species.—15. 

Viola araucaniae W. Becker, 

V. aurata Phil., 

V. auricula Leyb.,

V. domeikoana Gay, 

V. minutiflora Phil., 

V. nubigena Leyb., 

V. polypoda Turcz., 

V. pulvinata Reiche, 

V. pusilla Poepp., 

V. rhombifolia Leyb., 

V. subandina J. M. Watson, 

V. taltalensis W. Becker, 

V. vallenarensis W. Becker, 

V. weberbaueri W. Becker, 

V. yrameae J. M.Watson & A. R. Flores, ined

Distribution.—This widespread subandean to coastal section extends from Araucanía Region in southern Chile to Arequipa Department in southern Peru. Eleven or its taxa are Chilean endemics; one a Peruvian endemic; while two inhabit both Argentina and Chile. Its inland Metropolitan Region of Santiago centre of diversity is compact in contrast to the dense Pacific littoral spread of two species along the regions of Coquimbo and Atacama and into Antofgasta of almost 1000 km.

Etymology:  The section name Subandinium derives from the specific epithet of the type species. V. subandina, which occupies an intermediate elevation between the related high Andean and coastal species.

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. 193. [https://www.srgc.net/documents/publications/Viola%20monograph.pdf]

Iconography: Header image