Viola odorata, L.

1. V. odorata L. View in CoL , Sp. Pl. 934 (1753).

Perennial 5-15 cm, with leaf-rosette and long, procumbent, rooting stolons. Leaves orbicular-reniform, deeply cordate, widest at about the middle; petiole long. Stipules ovate, glabrous or sparsely cibate, shortly glandular-fimbriate. Bracts at or above middle of peduncle. Flowers c. 1-5 cm, dark violet or white, fragrant. Sepals ovate, obtuse. Spur c. 6 mm, exceeding calycine appendages. Stigmatic beak vertical, its length equalling diameter of style. Capsule pubescent. 2« = 20. Europe, except the extreme north and parts o fthe Mediterranean region. All except BI Fa Fe Is Rs (N) Sb?Tu. Widely cultivated in gardens and often naturalized. Its northern limit as a native plant is therefore uncertain; it is certainly native only in S., S.C. and parts of W. Europe. V. ignobilis Rupr. , Mém. Acad. Sci. Pétersb. ser. 7, 15(2): 148 (1869), from the Caucasus and Iran, which is like 1 but has cibate sepals and a more or less horizontal stigmatic beak, has been recorded from 3 localities in Romania, but further confirmation of identity is needed.