Viola arvensis, Murray

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 : 281

80. V. arvensis Murray , Prodr. Stirp. Gotting. 73 (1770).

Annual up to 40 cm, branched, more or less erect, with an indumentum of short, deflexed hairs. Leaves 2-5 cm, oblongspathulate, acute or obtuse, crenate. Stipules as long as leaves, coarsely pinnatifid; terminal segment lanceolate, leaf-like. Bracts in upper third of peduncle. Flowers 1-1-5 cm; lower petal cream to yellow; others cream to bluish-violet. Sepals lanceolate, equalling or exceeding corolla. Spur equalling calycine appendages. 2« = 34. Open and cultivated ground. Almost throughout Europe. All except Az BI Cr Fa Is Sb. The species is very variable, and intermediates between it and 78, probably of hybrid origin, have frequently been described, e.g. V. contempta Jordan .