Viola biflora, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1981, Flora Europaea. Volume 2. Rosaceae to Umbelliferae, Cambridge University Press : 276

33. V. biflora L. , Sp. Pl. 936 (1753).

Rhizome slender, creeping. Plant with basal rosette of leaves and ascending, leafy flowering stems up to 20 cm. Leaves reniform, cordate, crenate, with scattered hairs; lamina 3-4 cm; petiole 4-12 cm. Stipules 3 4 mm, ovate to lanceolate, usually cibate. Flowers 1-5 cm, yellow, not fragrant, the 4 posterior petals of the flower directed upwards as in Sect. Melanium. Sepals acute. Spur 2-3 mm. Capsule erect at maturity, glabrous. 2zz=12. Damp or shady places, mainly in the mountains. Fennoscandia; N. & C. Ural; mountain regions o f Europe from C. France and the Carpathians to S. Spain, C. Italy and Bulgaria. Au Bu Co Cz Fe Ga Ge He Hs Hu It Ju No Po Rm Rs (N, C, W) Su. Sect, melanium Ging. Herbaceous. Stipules usually large, leaf-like, often divided. Lateral petals directed upwards. Open flowers blue or yellow; cleistogamous flowers not produced. Style geniculate at the base, capitate, with wide stigmatic aper­ ture. Capsule erect at maturity, glabrous.