Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.158850
Element CodePDVIO04020
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderViolales
FamilyViolaceae
GenusViola
SynonymsViola sororia var. affinis(Leconte) L.E. McKinney
Other Common NamesSand Violet (EN) sand violet (EN) Violette affine (FR)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic CommentsKartesz (1994, 1999) considered Viola affinis to occur broadly across eastern North America, limited V. missouriensis to Michigan south to Tennessee west to the central U.S., and separately recognized V. langloisii from the Gulf Coast. In contrast, Little and McKinney's treatment of Viola affinis in FNA (vol. 6, 2015) appears to be a narrower concept than that of Kartesz (1994, 1999). The distribution of V. affinis shown by FNA (vol. 6, 2015) is only as far south as Illinois and Virginia and there is a note "reports of V. affinis in the Gulf coastal states based on specimens or photographs are usually attributable to V. missouriensis." The V. missouriensis in FNA (vol. 6, 2015) is broad and includes V. langloisii.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-09-17
Change Date1984-10-03
Edition Date2024-09-17
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Rank ReasonsThis taxon is a perennial herb in a variety of wetland habitats and widely distributed in eastern North America from Ontario and Quebec, Canada and New Hampshire west to Minnesota, south to Florida, Alabama, and Arkansas in the United States. The southern extent of its range is uncertain due to taxonomic confusion with V. langloisii and other taxa. Threats potentially include development, hydrological alteration, succession, and invasive species. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsThis taxon is widely distributed in eastern North America from Ontario and Quebec, Canada and New Hampshire west to southeastern Minnesota, south to Florida, Alabama, and northeastern Arkansas in the United States (Ballard et al. 2023). Range extent was estimated to be over 3.2 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are over 140 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024). Due to different treatments of this entity, herbarium records and photo-based observations may underrepresent true abundance.
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, this species is potentially threatened by development, hydrological alteration, succession, invasive species, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.