Viola lutea var. westfalica explained

Viola lutea var. westfalica, also^[1] known as high calamine pansy, Westphalia pansy, or zinc pansy, is a variety of violet native to Westphalia, Germany. It is found in the wild only in the districts of Paderborn, Hoexter and Hochsauerlandkreis, although it is cultivated in other locations. These are industrial areas where much of the soil is contaminated with lead, zinc and other metals, which some Viola species are more able to tolerate than some other plants.^{[2] [3] [4]}

Description

Viola lutea var. westfalica is in many ways similar to the yellow-flowered V. calaminaria, and was long treated as a variety of that species. Recent studies, however, suggest that it should be treated as a separate species.^[5]

It grows as an herb up to 15 cm (6 inches) tall. Flowers are blue-violet with darker blue streaks toward the center, with prominent yellow anthers.^{[6] [7]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Viola lutea var. westfalica A.A.H.Schulz Plants of the World Online Kew Science . 2023-09-27 . Plants of the World Online . en.
2. A. Braun. 1854. Das Vorkommen von Zink im Pflanzenreich. Bericht über die Bekanntmachung geeigneter Verhandlungen der Königlich Preußischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 19: 12–15.
3. Ernst, W. (1965): Ecological-sociological studies in the heavy metal plant communities in Central Europe, including the Alps. – Abh Westf. Mus. Naturkde. 27 (1): 1–54, Münster.
4. ̨Drzejczyk, M. Rostańskia, and Małkowski E. 2002. Accumulation of zinc and lead in selected taxa of the genus Viola L. Acta Biologica Cracoviensia, Serie Botanica 44: 49–55.
5. http://www2.ib.uj.edu.pl/abc/pdf/47_1/30siuta.pdf Siuta, A., M. Bozek, M. Jedrzejczyk, A. Rostanski, E. Kuta. 2005. Is the blue zinc violet (Viola guestphalica Nauenb.) of hybrid origin? evidence from embryology. Acta Biologica Cracoviensia, Serie Botanica, 47(1):237–245.
6. Nauenberg, J.D. 1986. Untersuchungen zur Variabilität, Ökologie und Systematik der Viola tricolor- Gruppe in Mitteleuropa. Göttingen, Germany
7. Richard Götte. 2007: Flora im östlichen Sauerland, Verein für Natur- und Vogelschutz im Hochsauerlandkreis 2007,