kingdom Plantae - plants »  divisio Magnoliophyta - flowering plants »  class Rosopsida - eudicots » order Malpighiales »  family Violaceae »  tribus Violeae > genus Viola > Viola sect. Melanium  Ging. 

Viola elegantula Schott

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Synon.: Viola gracilis var. elegantula (Schott) Ascherson; Viola gracilis sensu Vis. non Sibth. & Sm.; Viola skanderhegii Dörfler & Hayek; Viola speciosa Pant.

Description: Perennial herb with straight or ascending stalk 10–30 cm high, glabrous or short pubescent. The leaves are alternate, petiolate, 1–2 (–3) cm long, the blade of the lower leaves is orbicular, the upper leaves ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate; Palistas are between a quarter and a half in length, ovate, pinnate in outline, with 4–10 segments, the end segment is wider than the length of the lateral segments. The flowers are single in leaf axils, 2–2,5 cm long; flower stems are 5–12 cm long;calyx leaves are 7–12 (–16) mm long; the petals are 1.9–3.6 cm long, violet, yellow or brightly colored, rarely pink or white, the spur is 5-8 mm long, straight or slightly curved, about three times longer than the chalice appendages; the bars are 5.  The fruit is a capsule. 

Distributional Range: Native Europe SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE: Albania, Former Yugoslavia (w.).  Balkan species , found in the mountains on the border of Albania, Kosovo and Northern Macedonia. 

Habitat:  Habitats are forest meadows near the upper forest border and alpine lawns, accompanied by acidic and basic substrates at an altitude of 1200-2000 m. 

References:

1. Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource) URL: www.skud.info

2. Encke, F. et al. 1984. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 13. Auflage

3. Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening

4. Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third.

5. Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.