MORPHOLOGY AND CHROMOSOME-NUMBER OF VIOLA-PILOSA, AND ITS SYSTEMATIC POSITION

The chromosome number of Viola pilosa was counted as 2n = 20. This num ber as well as other characteristics such as acaulescent stoloniferous habit, adaptations to myrmecochorous dispersal and slightly uncinate styles suggest close similarity of V. pilosa and its relatives to V. s er. Viola. On the other hand, they contrast in chromosome number, frui t characters and style morphology with other species traditionally pla ced in V ser. Serpentes (W. Becker) Steenis. We thus propose that V. p ilosa, including the type of V. ser. Serpentes, and its relatives be t ransferred to V. ser. Viola. A new name is given to what is left of Be cker's ''Serpentes group'': V. ser. Australasiaticae Okamoto.