VIOLA RAULINIANA

Family and Genus:- See- VIOLACEAE/Sect. MELANIUM

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Viola heldreichiana, Viola parvula var. glabrata.

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

Rauliniana (L) In honor of the french botanist Victor Felix Raulin, who

also explored Psiloritis flora (Crete).

General description:- Hairless or sparsely hairy annual.

Stems:-

1) 2-3(-10) cm. ascending to erect.

Leaves:-

1) 0·5-1·2 cm:

a) lowermost, 1-3 cm oblong-orbicular, margins almost entire.

b) others, oblong-spathulate..

2) Stipules, linear-lanceolate, with marginal fimbriae longer than the width of the

stipule.

Flowers:-

1) c. 0·5 cm, lilac-blue.

2) Lower petal, 0·4-0·6 cm

3) Corolla, scarcely exceeding the calyx.

a) spur, slender, subacute, not notched, violet.

4) Sepals, lanceolate, acute, with inconspicuous appendages scarcely covering the

upper end of the peduncle.

Key features:-

1) Plant, glabrous or sparsely hairy.

2) Flowers, less than 1 cm, lilac-blue.

Click here for a glossary of terms used

Habitat:- Limestone Screes, rocky and stony flats, gravelly dolines with thorn-

cushion communities. 1400-2200 m.

Distribution:- Endemic to the three main massifs, where even there it is considered

to be quite rare.

Flowering time:- Apr-June.

Photos by:- Dr. Armin Jagel