Viola suavis, Bieb.

2. V. suavis Bieb. View in CoL , FI. Taur.-Cauc. 3: 164 (1819)

( V. pontica W. Becker , V. sepincola Jordan ).

Perennial with short rhizome and leaf-rosette, producing short, stout stolons. Spring leaves 3-8 cm; summer leaves up to 20 cm, glabrous or hairy; lamina ovate-oblong to broadly ovate, broadest below the middle, cordate; petioles eventually very long. Stipules lanceolate, longfimbriate; fimbriae cibate. Bracts below middle of peduncle. Flowers 1-5-2 cm, violet with white throat, fragrant. Spur exceeding calycine appendages. Capsule large, glabrous or pubescent. 2« = 40. S., C. & E. Europe, northwards to 52° N. in C. Russia, and extending to north-west France. Al Au Bu Co?Cr Cz Ga?Gr He Hs Hu It Ju Po Rm Rs (C, W, K, E) [Ge]. A critical and widely distributed species. It was divided by Becker {loc. cit.) into a series of geographical subspecies, but his treatment is not satisfactory and further investigation is needed. V. catalonica W. Becker , Cavanillesia 2: 43 (1929), from N.E. Spain, V. jagellonica Zapal. , Bull. Int. Acad. Sci. Cracovie ser. B, 1914: 455 (1914), from Poland, and V. adriatica Freyn , Flora {Regensb.) 67: 679 (1884), from N.W. Jugoslavia, are somewhat intermediate between 2 and 3. They may be of hybrid origin, and require further investigation.