Viola frank-smithii

N. H. Holmgren

Brittonia 44: 303, fig. 1E – H. 1992.

Common names: Frank Smith violet
Conservation concernEndemic
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 6. Treatment on page 131. Mentioned on page 117.

Plants perennial, caulescent, not stoloniferous, 1.5–12.5 cm. Stems 1–4, decumbent or ascending to erect, glabrous, on caudex from fleshy rhizome. Leaves basal and cauline; basal: 2–3; stipules lanceolate, margins fimbriate, apex acute; petiole 1.5–6(–14) cm, glabrous; blade broadly ovate to deltate, 1.3–2.9(–4.1) × 1.3–2.9 cm, base cordate to truncate, margins crenate, eciliate, apex obtuse to rounded, surfaces glabrous; cauline similar to basal except: petiole 1.3–6.5 cm; blade 1.1–2.2 × 0.7–1.6 cm. Peduncles 2.5–7(–11.2) cm, glabrous. Flowers: sepals lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, margins eciliate, auricles 0.5–1.5 mm; all petals usually pale purple, sometimes almost white adaxially, lateral 2 and lowest purple-veined, lateral and upper 2 violet abaxially, white basally, lateral 2 bearded, lowest 10–16(–18) mm, spur greenish to pale lime green, gibbous, 1.6–3 mm; style head bearded; cleistogamous flowers unknown. Capsules ovoid, 3–7 mm, glabrous. Seeds pale yellow, 2.4–2.8 mm.


Phenology: Flowering May–Jul.
Habitat: Cracks, crevices, and narrow ledges of vertical limestone and dolomite rock faces, humid, shady places
Elevation: 1600–2100 m

Discussion

Of conservation concern.

Viola frank-smithii is endemic to Logan Canyon, Cache County, Utah. N. H. Holmgren (2005d) wrote that it likely has its ancestral ties with V. adunca.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Viola frank-smithii"
R. John Little +  and Landon E. McKinney† +
N. H. Holmgren +
Frank Smith violet +
1600–2100 m +
Cracks, crevices, and narrow ledges of vertical limestone and dolomite rock faces, humid, shady places +
Flowering May–Jul. +
Conservation concern +  and Endemic +
Chrysion +, Crocion +  and Lophion +
Viola frank-smithii +
species +