Viola bertolonii is a species of violet known by the common name Bertoloni's pansy, belonging to the Violaceae family.
Etymology The genus name, derived from the Latin word “viere” meaning “to tie”, possibly refers to the flexuosity of these plants. The species epithet honors the Italian botanist Antonio Bertoloni (1775–1869).
Description The biological form of Viola bertolonii is hemicryptophyte scapose,Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia – Edagricole – 1982. Vol. II, pag. 110 as its overwintering buds are situated just below the soil surface and the floral axis is more or less erect with a few leaves. It has a particularly low chromosome number (2n = 20) and possibly dates back to the late Tertiary.
Viola bertolonii is a rare herbaceous perennial plant with a prostrate-ascending stem about high. The basal leaves are small, from round to oval, with an elongated petiole, while the upper leaves are linear and narrow, with pinnate stipules. The large blue-violet flowers have a corolla of about wide. The flowering period extends from April through June.
Distribution It is an endemic with a quite restricted distribution range. It is only present in south eastern France (possibly) and in north western Italy,Distribution in Grin.gov in the Apennines of Liguria (Regional Park of Monte Beigua, Piani di Praglia, Monte Pracaban, Monte Leco, Punta Martin) and Piedmont (Natural Park of Capanne di Marcarolo).
Habitat The species is strictly associated with ultramafic serpentine substrates. It grows on ophiolites in mountain environments in meadows and rocky slopes, at an altitude of above sea level.
Subspecies Viola bertolonii subsp. bertolonii Viola bertolonii subsp. messanensisSubspecies in BiolibPaola Gastaldo - Compendio della flora officinale italian - Ediz. Piccin, pag. 220
Gallery
References
Acta Plantarum
External links Schede di Botanica