Viola suavis var. pannonica (Violaceae), a new white-flowered violet from central Europe

Abstract

Viola suavis var. pannonica (Violaceae) from central Europe is described here as a new variety to science. It is most similar to the blue-flowered V. suavis var. suavis and the white-flowered V. suavis var. catalonica and V. suavis subsp. naqshii, but exhibits differences in several characters, such as petal colour, spur shape, fimbriae length on the stipules, bracteoles position on the peduncle and lamina sinus shape. Although the new taxon is often considered a colour mutation of V. suavis var. suavis, previous genetic analyses revealed that these white-flowered plants do not arise recurrently at different locations (having multiple origins), but rather form a monophyletic evolutionary lineage. To date, the occurrence of V. suavis var. pannonica has been reported in the Slovak Republic, the Czech Republic and western Ukraine. In this paper, we report its occurrence in Austria and Hungary. Notes on its etymology, distribution, ecology, origin and hybridization, as well as photographs of the new variety (including the holotype) are also provided.