Viola bertolonii

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}} {{Speciesbox |image = Violaceae - Viola bertolonii-3.JPG |image_caption = Plants of ''Viola bertolonii'' |genus = Viola (plant) |species = bertolonii |authority = Pio emend. Merxm. et Lippert |synonyms = * ''Viola heterophylla'' subsp. ''epirota'' (Halácsy) W.Becker * ''Viola heterophylla'' Bertol. non Poir. * ''Viola heterophylla ''var. ''messanensis'' W. Becker [= ''Viola bertolonii'' subsp. ''messanensis''] }}

'''''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== thumb|240 px|right|Close-up on a flower of ''Viola bertolonii'' The biological form of ''Viola bertolonii'' is ''hemicryptophyte'' ''scapose'',<ref name=Pignatti>Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia – Edagricole – 1982. Vol. II, pag. 110</ref> 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 {{convert|5|-|15|cm}} high.<ref name=Pignatti/> 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 {{convert|2|-|4|cm}} wide. The flowering period extends from April through June.<ref name=Pignatti/>

==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,<ref name=Pignatti/><ref name=ars>[http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxon.pl?430338 Distribution in Grin.gov]</ref> 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 {{convert|600|-|1000|m}} above sea level.<ref name=Pignatti/>

==Subspecies== * ''Viola bertolonii'' subsp. ''bertolonii'' * ''Viola bertolonii ''subsp. ''messanensis''<ref name=Bio>[https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxontree/id418120/ Subspecies in Biolib]</ref><ref name=PG>Paola Gastaldo - Compendio della flora officinale italian - Ediz. Piccin, pag. 220</ref>

==Gallery== <gallery> File:Viola Bertoloni.jpg|Plants of ''Viola Bertolonii'' File:Violaceae - Viola bertolonii-5.JPG|Plants of ''Viola Bertolonii'' File:Violaceae - Viola bertolonii-1.JPG|Plant of ''Viola Bertolonii'' File:Violaceae - Viola bertolonii-4.JPG|Flowers of ''Viola Bertolonii'' File:Violaceae - Viola bertolonii.JPG|Flowers of ''Viola Bertolonii'' </gallery>

==References== {{Commons|Viola bertolonii}} {{Wikispecies|Viola bertolonii}} {{Reflist}} * [http://www.actaplantarum.org/floraitaliae/viewtopic.php?t=312 Acta Plantarum]

==External links== * [http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/index1.php?scientific-name=viola+bertolonii Schede di Botanica]

bertolonii