kingdom Plantae - plants »  divisio Magnoliophyta - flowering plants »  class Rosopsida - eudicots » order Malpighiales »  family Violaceae »  tribus Violeae > genus Viola > section Viola sect. Chamaemelanium Ging. > Viola subsect. Biflorae J. C. Clausen   

Viola kitamiana Nakai

    シレトコスミレ, 知床菫 - Shiretokosumire  (meaning: Shiretoko violet) 

| Bio Lib |

Distributional Range:  Native Asia-Temperate EASTERN ASIA: Japan [Hokkaidô]

Description: A perennial plant of plant height 5-10cm. The center of the white flower turns yellow.   The flowers bloom from July to August, the style is rod-shaped, and the base is white. The Japanese name was given by Kingo Miyabe . It is said to be the most primitive type due to its simple style and twelve somatic chromosomes. 

Distribution:  It is distributed  on the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido , and grows in very limited environments in the gravel of Takayama. The main distribution areas are Mt. Iwo , Mt.Chienbetsu , Mt. Higashi , and Mt. The population of Tonebetsudake was identified in 1975. Although it is said to be endemic to Shiretoko, it has also been pointed out that it may be the same species as Viola bezdelevae distributed on Etorofu Island . 

Habitat: . Grows on pebble and sandy grounds where it is very fragile in the so-called creaking area, with almost no contact with other plants .

References:

1. Igari, M. 1996. Wild violets of Japan Note: book almost entirely in Japanese

2. Iwatsuki, K. et al. 1993-. Flora of Japan.