Viola kauaensis var. hosakae (Violaceae), a new variety of endemic Hawaiian violet

• Published in: PhytoKeys no. 39; pp. 35 - 48
• Main Authors: Havran, J. Christopher, Harbin, Susan Ching, Portner, Talia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pensoft Publishers 23-06-2014
• ISSN: 1314-2011; 1314-2003
• DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.39.6500

The Hawaiian endemic
Viola kauaensis
A. Gray has a broad distribution in bogs of Kaua`i and a limited distribution on mesic ridges in the Ko`olau Mountains of O`ahu. Based on differences in scale, the O`ahu populations of
Viola kauaensis
had previously been described as a distinct taxon. The taxonomic status of the O`ahu populations was reevaluated through a morphometric analysis of all varieties of
Viola kauaensis
and the morphologically similar
Viola vanroyenii
. Morphological features of historic and freshly collected specimens of all varieties of
Viola kauaensis
were analyzed with a principal components analysis. Populations from O`ahu represent a distinct cluster that slightly overlaps with
Viola kauaensis
var.
kauaensis
. Lamina width, apex angle, and base angles contribute to the separation of the O`ahu populations from other varieties of
Viola kauaensis
. Due to differences in scale, the O`ahu populations are described as
Viola kauaensis
var.
hosakae
, a new critically endangered taxon.