Viola kitaibeliana

Viola kitaibeliana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Violaceae
Genus: Viola
Species:
V. kitaibeliana
Binomial name
Viola kitaibeliana
Synonyms[2]
  • Viola arvensis subsp. kitaibeliana (Schult.) Mateo & Figuerola
  • Viola brachyantha Stapf
  • Viola karakalensis Klokov

Viola kitaibeliana, the dwarf violet, is a plant species in the genus Viola. It is native to a large area from the Canary Islands, across Europe, to northern Iran and southern Turkmenistan.[2]

It is an annual, and requires disturbed or grazed soil to grow.[3]

In 2021, two plants were discovered flowering on the 0.16 sq km island of Teän, in the Scilly Isles; the first seen there for 16 years.[3]

Taxonomy

Besides the nominate taxon, there are two other infraspecific taxa which are recognised in Plants of the World Online as of 2017:[2]

  • Viola kitaibeliana subsp. kitaibeliana
  • Viola kitaibeliana subsp. machadiana (Cout.) Capelo & C.Aguiar
  • Viola kitaibeliana subsp. trimestris (DC. ex Ging.) Espeut

Description

This herbaceous plant is not higher than 12 cm. Like all violets the flowers are zygomorphic.

References

  1. ^ "Viola kitaibeliana". International Plant Names Index. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries and Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Viola kitaibeliana Schult". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b Barkham, Patrick (2021-05-29). "Dwarf pansy blooms on tiny Scilly island after 16-year absence". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 May 2021.