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Viola labradorica 'purpurea' = V. riviniana? (what's the story)
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Posted by lrobins z6b MD (My Page) on Thu, Aug 1, 02 at 2:08
| Just following up on a comment someone made in a previous thread. To provide context for my question, I've been doing research on low-growing, eastern U.S. native wildflowers suitable for a low "front border" to a native perennial garden (with medium to tall plants). Of course, violets are generally low-growing, and there are many North American species. In looking through the catalogs of native plant nurseries near my area, I've seen several reference to Viola labradorica, or V. labradorica purpurea. This puzzled me a bit because reference books say that V. labradorica is native to Labrador, Greenland, and Nova Scotia. Most plants from that far "up north" wouldn't be happy in our hot summers, and wouldn't be carried by local nurseries. The comment in the other thread suggests the answer to this mystery: the purported V. labradorica is really V. riviniana, a more adaptable European not North American species. Is this now generally accepted (at least by knowledgeable botanists)? If so, why does the apparent mis-identification persist, in other words why don't the nurseries start referring to the plant as V. riviniana purpurea? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Viola labradorica 'purpurea' = V. riviniana? (what's the stor
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Yes - confusion persists.
Here's a stab at explaining it. Most plants sold as Viola labradorica or Viola labradorica purpurea (various concoctions of spelling and puncuation) are actually a purple leaved form of Viola riviniana. Current opinion is that this should be called Viola riviniana Purpurea Group (first two words in italics, second two words in normal Roman type and without any quotes). The 'purpurea' suffix to the Viola labradorica name was used to indicate a form with more-purple leaves, but the plant encompasses a range of leaf-purplenesses, so such a qualification may not be very useful. Also, the leaves vary in purpleness depending on the time of year and temperatures and light levels.
This mis-naming has been around for ages, and because of that, it is difficult to displace in many growers minds - in just the same way that Pelargoniums are commonly called geraniums. A few nurserymen do list the plant as Viola riviniana Purpurea Group, but most still use some spelling variant of Viola labradorica/purpurea, and may continue to do so if they see it as beneficial for their sales. It can be very difficult to turn the tide on these things. The recent re-naming of Aubretia to Aubrieta will probably take many years swimming against the tide before it gains a firm footing, eg. Viola labradorica is a valid species, as you describe, but I have yet to see it in cultivation. (It would be interesting to know whether any nurseries in Nova Scotia actually stock it.) Footnote: Viola riviniana Purpurea Group seems to be gaining adoption, but I am not 100% sure it is the best name, since there is also a Viola purpurea, and the ICNCP frowns upon a cultivar group having the same name as a species in the same denomination group. The issue then is the extent of the denomintion group - Viola or Viola riviniana. Opinions vary. Mike |
RE: Viola labradorica 'purpurea' = V. riviniana? (what's the stor
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| I want to see true Viola labradorica in the web.Show me URL of the sites involving photos of true Viola labradorica. |
RE: Viola labradorica 'purpurea' = V. riviniana? (what's the stor
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There is a photograph of v. labradorica in the book The Genus Viola of Maine by Arthur Haines.Published in 2001 the author bases much of his work on Ballard's studies so I feel confidant in Mr. Haines'taxonomy.
I purchased my copy from The bookshop of the New England Wildflower Society. You can also get it at http://www.vfthomas.com/books.htm. hope this helps
Vicki |
RE: Viola labradorica 'purpurea' = V. riviniana? (what's the stor
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Takeda,
Given thatyou are in Japan and it may not be practical for you to mail order the book,try contacting the author via his email address arthurhaines@gwi.net or take a look at his web site http://arthur_haines.tripod.com/. The photographs of violets are his and perhaps he can email this particular one to you. |
RE: Viola labradorica 'purpurea' = V. riviniana? (what's the stor
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| There is a picture of the true Viola labradorica on the USDA Plants Database website. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Viola labradorica
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