False Viola comollia

[Great Moravian]

Viola comollia is a red-flowered acaulescent pansy.
The binomial is often applied to another species.
It is superficially similar to Viola jooi, but
not the species. The lower petal is obtuse in the
former whereas it is erose in the latter,
the adjacent petals are broader in the former.
My images of the species are attached.

[Carlo]

Beautiful Josef! I have not seen this viola before. It can't be very common in the gardening world.

[maggiepie]

Is it easy to grow from seed and if so where would one find the seed?
Can you tell me how hardy it is?
My lowest winter temps are usually between -28 and -30C
Forgot to add, it is really beautiful.

[Gerdk]

Josef,
If this violet is so similar to V. jooi it might be the cross
V. jooi x pumilio which was obtained by German friends
several times in your country. Unfortunately I can't remember
exactly the name of the Gentleman where it came from - perhaps Martinek?

Gerd

[Great Moravian]

Beautiful Josef! I have not seen this viola before. It can't be very common in the gardening world.

It is the commonest Viola of rock gardens in Moravia.

[Great Moravian]

Is it easy to grow from seed and if so where would one find the seed?
Can you tell me how hardy it is?
My lowest winter temps are usually between -28 and -30C
Forgot to add, it is really beautiful.

It is one of the easiest plants. Therefore I never collect seeds. There are enough seedlings without my intervention.
Our winter temperature is usually not bellow 16C, but there are colder winters occasionally.
Seeds are regularly offered in Brno exchange as Viola comollia.

[Great Moravian]

Josef,
If this violet is so similar to V. jooi it might be the cross
V. jooi x pumilio which was obtained by German friends
several times in your country. Unfortunately I can't remember
exactly the name of the Gentleman where it came from - perhaps Martinek?

Gerd

Gerd,
Thank you for the information. Martínek is a Moravian nurseryman and member of Brno club,
so it might be the identical plant. But no splitting can be observed in the progeny,
hence V. jooi x pumilio might be a fantasy too.

[Great Moravian]

You can add further identifications. Perhaps the plant isn't a Moravian speciality.

[Carlo]

Glad to hear that it is common in Moravia. Perhaps it will start making its way to other areas.

I grow several viola here--but none with such a beautiful and clear pink color.

[maggiepie]

It is one of the easiest plants. Therefore I never collect seeds. There are enough seedlings without my intervention.
Our winter temperature is usually not bellow 16C, but there are colder winters occasionally.
Seeds are regularly offered in Brno exchange as Viola comollia.

Josef,

Where might one find more information on Brno club?

[Great Moravian]

Where might one find more information on Brno club?

At
http://www.skalnicky-brno.cz/
but it is not useful for you. If you donate 25 items in September 2011,
you can participate in exchange.
Postage is expected to be prepaid.

[Gerdk]

You can add further identifications. Perhaps the plant isn't a Moravian speciality.

Josef,
Looked into my files and could not find any information about this cross. Also no pics made. I only remembered the name and supposed this could be a possibility. Viola jooi and pumilio (synonym of V. sieboldii) belong to section Adnatae and so a cross most probably works.
I hope someone here is able to tell us what your plant is in fact!

Gerd

[Great Moravian]

I checked Brno seedlists since 1991 which are available to me.
The plant was listed already in 1991.
It is certainly cultivated in Great Britain
because it couldn't be overlooked for two decades.
I wonder how it is called there.