Okinawa Sumire

Okinawa Sumire :: Viola utchinensis

Bad at Goodbyes :: Episode 080

On today’s show we learn about the Okinawa Sumire, a critically endangered flowering plant native to the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, in the Pacific Ocean, specifically, the island of Okinawa, roughly 400 miles southeast of the Japanese mainland. Its scientific name is Viola utchinensis and it was first described in 1938.

• (00:05) Intro
• (02:05) Species Information
• (17:56) Citations
• (19:47) Music
• (24:53) Pledge

Research for today’s show was compiled from:

• Beattie, A. J., and N. Lyons. 1975. "Seed Dispersal in Viola (Violaceae): Adaptations and Strategies." American Journal of Botany 62, no. 7: 714–722. – https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1537-2197.1975.tb14104.x
• FamousFix. n.d. "Flora of the Ryukyu Islands." FamousFix. Accessed June 3, 2026. – https://www.famousfix.com/list/flora-of-the-ryukyu-islands
• iNaturalist – https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?captive=false&nelat=26.527232454&nelng=127.974081399&quality_grade=research&subview=map&swlat=26.42028461&swlng=127.849111916&verifiable=any&view=species
• Karnish, A. (2024). "Seed dispersal by ants: A primer". International Journal of Plant Sciences, 185(5), 403–411. – https://doi.org/10.1086/730787
• Koidzumi, G. (1938). "Contributiones ad Cognitioem Florae Asiae Orientalis". Acta Phytotaxonomica et Geobotanica 7 (2): 112–117 [113]. – https://doi.org/10.18942/bunruichiri.KJ00002594478
• Marcussen, T., Ballard, H. E., Danihelka, J., Flores, A. R., Nicola, M. V., & Watson, J. M. (2022). A Revised Phylogenetic Classification for Viola (Violaceae). Plants 11(17), 2224. – https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11172224
• Ministry of the Environment, Japan. 2016. Viola utchinensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T54081377A54081585. – https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T54081377A54081585.en
• NYAN. 2026. "Viola utchinensis." Violet Chamber of Flower Photo Gallery. Last updated March 19, 2026. – https://www.io-net.com/violet/violet2/okinawa(e).htm
• Shinmoto, Mitsutaka, Xiaohe Xinli, Anri Nerio, Nagaken Ishigaki, and Lishio Wu. 2011. "Research on Resource Botany of Natural Forests in Subtropical Okinawa." The Science Bulletin of the College of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus 52. – https://agriknowledge.affrc.go.jp/RN/2030722825
• Sutton, Sharon, and Clara Benecke. 1985. "ARGS Members Visit Japan." Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society 43, no. 2 (Spring). – https://www.nargs.org/sites/default/files/free-rgq-downloads/VOL_43_NO_2.pdf
• U.S. Forest Service. n.d. "Visual Cues." Celebrating Wildflowers. Accessed June 3, 2026. – https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/pollinators/Plant_Strategies/visualcues.shtml
• Yousefi, N., S. S. Mehrvarz, and T. Marcussen. 2012. "Anatomical Studies on Selected Species of Viola(Violaceae)." Nordic Journal of Botany 30: 461–469. – https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1756-1051.2011.01266.x
• Wikipedia. n.d. "Viola utchinensis." Wikipedia. Accessed June 3, 2026. – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola_utchinensis

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A note on accuracy: I strive for it! These episodes are well-researched and built from scholarly sources, hoping to provide an informed and accurate portrait of these species. That said, I’m a musician! I am not an academic and have limited scientific background. I may get things wrong! If you are using this podcast for scholarship of any kind, please see the cited sources and double-check all information.