Viola utchinensis

Viola utchinensis
Conservation status
	; Critically Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Violaceae
Genus:	Viola
Species:	V. utchinensis
Binomial name
	Viola utchinensis; Koidz.

Viola utchinensis (オキナワスミレ, Okinawa sumire) is a species of flowering plant in the family Violaceae.

Taxonomy

The species was first described by Japanese botanist Gen-ichi Koidzumi in 1938.^[2] The specific epithet relates to the type locality (Manzamo in the village of Onna) on Okinawa Island (Uchinā in Okinawan).^[2]

Description

Viola utchinensis is an evergreen with ovate leaves and pale purple to purplish-white flowers.^[3]^[4] Flowers bloom from February to April.^[5]

Distribution and habitat

Viola utchinensis is endemic to Okinawa Island in the Ryūkyū Islands of Japan.^[2]^[6]

This species can be found in crevices of raised coral reef and coastal cliffs. It grows in elevated habitat in full sun.^[5]

Conservation status and threats

Viola utchinensis is classed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and Endangered on the Ministry of the Environment Red List and has been designated a National Endangered Species under the 1992 Act on Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.^[1]^[7]^[8] In 2015 the population was estimated to be between 100 - 200 mature individuals.^[5]

V. utchinensis is threatened primarily by the illegal collection of specimens for cultivation. This is believed to be the biggest threat for the species.^[5] The species is attractive therefore is dug up to be used as rare ornamental plant.

References

^ ^a ^b Ministry of the Environment, Japan (2016). "Viola utchinensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T54081377A54081585. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T54081377A54081585.en. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Koidzumi, G. (1938). "Contributiones ad Cognitioem Florae Asiae Orientalis". Acta Phytotaxonomica et Geobotanica (in Latin). 7 (2): 112–117 [113]. doi:10.18942/bunruichiri.KJ00002594478. ISSN 0001-6799.
^ Okinawa Prefecture, ed. (5 December 2018). レッドデータおきなわ維管束植物 [Red Data Okinawa: Vascular Plants] (PDF) (3 ed.). Okinawa Prefecture. p. 217. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
^ Ministry of the Environment, ed. (2015). レッドデータブック2014 —日本の絶滅のおそれのある野生生物— 8 植物I（維管束植物） [Red Data Book 2014 — Threatened Wildlife of Japan — Volume 8, Vascular Plants] (in Japanese). Gyōsei Corporation. p. 257. ISBN 978-4-324-09902-5.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Okinawa sumire Viola utchinensis". www.iucnredlist.org. 2015-10-06. Retrieved 2022-05-14.
^ Katō, M. [in Japanese]; Ebihara, A. [in Japanese] (March 2011). 日本の固有植物 [Endemic Plants of Japan] (in Japanese). Tokai University Press. pp. 93, 244, 331. ISBN 978-4-486-01897-1.
^ 維管束植物 [Vascular Plants] (in Japanese). Ministry of the Environment. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
^ 国内希少野生動植物種一覧 [List of National Endangered Species] (in Japanese). Ministry of the Environment. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.

[IUCN-1] Ministry of the Environment, Japan (2016). "Viola utchinensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T54081377A54081585. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T54081377A54081585.en. Retrieved 11 May 2022.

[Koidzumi-2] Koidzumi, G. (1938). "Contributiones ad Cognitioem Florae Asiae Orientalis". Acta Phytotaxonomica et Geobotanica (in Latin). 7 (2): 112–117 [113]. doi:10.18942/bunruichiri.KJ00002594478. ISSN 0001-6799.

[RD-3] Okinawa Prefecture, ed. (5 December 2018). レッドデータおきなわ維管束植物 [Red Data Okinawa: Vascular Plants] (PDF) (3 ed.). Okinawa Prefecture. p. 217. Retrieved 11 May 2022.

[Data-4] Ministry of the Environment, ed. (2015). レッドデータブック2014 —日本の絶滅のおそれのある野生生物— 8 植物I（維管束植物） [Red Data Book 2014 — Threatened Wildlife of Japan — Volume 8, Vascular Plants] (in Japanese). Gyōsei Corporation. p. 257. ISBN 978-4-324-09902-5.

[:0-5] "Okinawa sumire Viola utchinensis". www.iucnredlist.org. 2015-10-06. Retrieved 2022-05-14.

[Endemic-6] Katō, M. [in Japanese]; Ebihara, A. [in Japanese] (March 2011). 日本の固有植物 [Endemic Plants of Japan] (in Japanese). Tokai University Press. pp. 93, 244, 331. ISBN 978-4-486-01897-1.

[7] 維管束植物 [Vascular Plants] (in Japanese). Ministry of the Environment. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2022.

[MoE-8] 国内希少野生動植物種一覧 [List of National Endangered Species] (in Japanese). Ministry of the Environment. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.

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