VIOLA ODORATA

Family and Genus:- See- VIOLACEAE/Sect. VIOLA/Subsect. VIOLA

Common Names:- Sweet violet

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Viola The Latin name applied to several fragrant plants.

Odorata (L) Fragrant, sweet-smelling.

General description:- Perennial with a leaf-rosette and long, procumbent, rooting

stolons.

Stems:-

1) 5-15 cm,

2) Stolons, long, procumbent and rooting.

Leaves:-

1) Orbicular-reniform, deeply cordate, long-petiolate.

2) Stipules, ovate-lanceolate, shortly fimbriate.

Flowers:-

1) c.1·5 cm, dark violet or white, fragrant.

2) Sepals, ovate, obtuse.

3) Spur, c. 6 mm, exceeding calycine appendages.

4) Stigmatic beak, vertical, its length equalling the diameter of the style.

5) Bracts, at or above middle of peduncle.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, pubescent, obscurely trigonous.

Key features:-

1) Stolons, long, procumbent and rooting.

2) Leaves, orbicular, obtuse.

3) Stipules, ovate-lanceolate, shortly fimbriate.

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Habitat:- Somewhat damp, shady habitats in woodland, scrub and gorges. 200-

1300 m.

Distribution:- Throughout Greece. - Widespread in Europe, NW Africa and Anatolia

to Iran. Known from only a few scattered locations on Crete including the Lefka Ori

and Dikti massifs. Rare.

Flowering time:- Feb to early June, depending on altitude.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis