SPECIES DESCRIPTION
VIOLA PHITOSIANIA
Family and Genus:- See- VIOLACEAE/Sect. MELANIUM
Common Names:- None
Homotypic Synonyms:- None
Meaning:- Viola The Latin name applied to several fragrant plants.
Phitosiana (L) Named after Dimitrios Phitos, professor at the
University of Patras
General description:- Annual, with dense indumentum of short, crisped or
deflexed hairs.
Stem:-
1) 2-10(-20) cm.
Leaves:-
1) 1-3 cm.
a) lower mostly orbicular.
b) others, oblong-spathulate, crenately lobed.
2) Stipules, 0·5-1 cm. pinnatipartite with an oblong-spathulate, crenately lobed,
shortly stalked, terminal segment and smaller lateral segments.
Flowers:-
1) Corolla, shorter than to slightly longer than the calyx. cream-white to yellow with
a yellow centre.
2) Calyx appendages, 1/6-1/4 as long as the calyx.
3) Lower petal, 9-13 mm long including the slender spur 3-5 mm long, much longer
shortly stalked, terminal segment and smaller lateral segments.
4) Bracts, just below the flower.
5) Flowers, 0·4-0·8 cm.
6) Sepals, lanceolate, exceeding the corolla.
Fruit:-
1) Seeds, 1.5-1.7 mm
Key features:-
1) Lower petal, 9-13 mm long including the slender spur 3-5 mm long, much longer
than the calyx appendages.
Habitat:- Discovered in open tussock-grass in the shade of Crataegus monogyna
trees on the flat bottom of a large doline, with a limestone substrate.1)
Distribution:- Endemic to Greece and is now recorded from all Greek floristic
regions except the North Aegean Islands, the East Aegean Islands and the
Kyklades. First discovered on the Omalos plain W. Crete by Giorgos Palimetakis,
April 2022, ID confirmed by Nicholas. J. Turland. On a subsequent visit during May
a further 122 flowering individuals were observed by Fotis Samaritakis.1)
1) Viola-phitosiana-EuroMed-Checklist-Notulae
Flowering time:- April-May
Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis
