kingdom Plantae - plants » divisio Magnoliophyta - flowering plants » class Rosopsida - eudicots » order Malpighiales » family Violaceae » tribus Violeae > genus Viola > Viola sect. Melanium Ging.
Synon.: Mnemion cheiranthifolium (Humb. et Bonpl.) Webb et Berthel., Viola teydea Berthel.
Description: Perennial herb, 5–15 cm tall. Leaves alternate, petiolate, lanceolate to spathulate, dentate to entire, greyish-silvery. Flowers hermaphrodite, solitary, corolla zygomorphic, sepals 5, persistent, petals 5, free, blue, with white and yellow markings, lateral petals directed upwards, lower petal spurred, spur short. Fruit a 3-valved capsule.
Distributional Range: Native Africa MACARONESIA: Spain [Canarias: Tenerife ]
Habitat: It grows on dry and stony slopes of the volcano Teide in the central region of Tenerife, in pumice and lava, in elevations from 2100 to 2800 m asl. It blooms from April to May.
References:
Bramwell, D. & Z. Bramwell. 1974. Wild flowers of the Canary islands.
Izquierdo Z., I. et al., eds. 2004. Lista de especies silvestres de Canarias: hongos, plantas y animales terrestres