Viola monacanora J.L.Hastings & H.E.Ballard
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Detail
- Family
- Violaceae
- Botanical Name
- Viola monacanora J.L.Hastings & H.E.Ballard
- Common Name
- Blue Ridge Violet
- Synonym(s)
- Flora of Virginia Name/Status
- Not in Flora of Virginia; named and described after its publication
- Comments
- Viola monacanora is a recently described species that appears to be endemic to the Blue Ridge in Virginia and North Carolina. It is a homophyllus, cut-leaved violet that, in our area, is most similar to Viola subsinuata, specimens of which need to be re-examined for possible misidentifications. The map is based on specimens cited in Ballard et al. (2023) and a few more recent collections. Further field and herbarium work is needed to better characterize this species' ecology and distribution. For more information see Ballard, H.E., J.T. Kartesz, and M. Nishino. 2023. A taxonomic treatment of the Violets (Violaceae) of the northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. Jour. Torrey Bot. Soc. 150(1): 3-266.
- Habitat
- Ballard et al. (2023) describe the habitat as "moist rocky loam in rich mesic forests at higher elevations." Based on the specimens cited, as well as recent field studies, the actual elevation range is in the "middle to higher" range, i.e., from ca. 2500 to 4000 ft., occupying substrates weathered from a variety of basic to sub-acidic metavolcanic, granitic, and metasedimentary rocks. Occurrences are known from nearly the full length of the Virginia Blue Ridge. However, the species appears to be most common in the central Blue Ridge, in rich, montane oak-hickory forests over Catoctin metabasalt. Hybrids with Viola sororia are common where the two species co-occur.
- Native Status
- Native
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