Viola tricolor

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Viola tricolor

Description

Annual, biennial or perennial; Leaves ovate-lanceolate to -elliptical, cuneate or subcordate at base, obtuse, crenate. Stipules deeply and pinnately lobed, terminal segment larger than the others, lanceolate, entire or crenate, leaf-like. Flowers c. 2-3 cm, violet, yellow or parti-coloured, very variable in colour and size; Sepals 7-14 by 2-5 mm, linear-lanceolate, acute, glabrous; Petals obovate, 1-2 times as long as broad; Capsule 8-14 mm, ellipsoid, glabrous.

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: Philippines (Philippines cultivated), Luzon cultivated, mountain regions of Java cultivated, throughout Europe extending to Asia Minor and Himalayas present
Widespread throughout Europe extending to Asia Minor and Himalayas, in Malesia: garden-ornamental in mountain regions of Java and the Philippines (Luzon), not known to be naturalized.

Notes

These garden forms probably represent derivatives [V. X wittrockiana (= V. hortensis auct.)] from hybridization with V. lutea HUDS. and V. altaica KER-GAWLER.

Citation

BACK. & BAKH.f. 1963 – In: Fl. Java: 195