Viola tricolor, L.

78. V. tricolor L. View in CoL , Sp. Pl. 935 (1753).

Glabrous to shortly pubescent annual, biennial or perennial; rhizome absent or short. Stems ascending or erect, usually branched. Lower leaves cordate to ovate, obtuse, crenate; the upper ovate to lanceolate, more or less cuneate at base, crenate. Stipules deeply and pinnately lobed, the terminal segment larger than the others, usually lanceolate, entire or crenate, usually leaf-like. Flowers 1-2-5(-3-5) cm, violet, yellow or parti-coloured. Corolla distinctly exceeding calyx. Spur 3-6-5 mm, variable in length, up to twice as long as the calycine appendages. Most o f Europe, but rare in the south and only on mountains. All except Az BI Cr LuSaSbSi.

The following grouping of subspecies is provisional, and further investigation is needed.

1 Usually annual 2 Stems not more than 40 cm; flowers usually blue-violet

(a) subsp. tricolor 2 Stems up to 80 cm; flowers usually yellow (e) subsp. matutina 1 Usually perennial 3 Lateral petals without veins (c) subsp. macedonica 3 Lateral petals with distinct veins 4 Low-growing, maritime (b) subsp. curtisii 4 Ascending or erect, montane (d) subsp. subalpina