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

Viola grisebachiana Vis.

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Synon.: 

Common name:

Description: Perennial herb with branched rhizome. Stem 2–8 cm high, procumbent or ascending, often subterranean. Leaves fleshy, ovate-orbicular. Stipule entire like the leaves, glabrous. Flower stalks glabrous. Flowers rotund to wide obovate, 1–3 on the stem, single, in the axils of the cauline leaves, not fragrant. Sepals elongate-ovate, acute. Petals blue, rarely yellow; upper deflected upwards, laterals curved towards the upper and spread outwards, lower with dark veins; spur dark to green violet, straight and slightly curved upwards. Fruit capsule. Fl. VI–VIII, fr. VII–IX. Reproduction by seeds and vegetative means. 

Distributional Range: Native Europe SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE: Albania, Bulgaria [Pirin Mts (northern), Rhodopi Mts (central – Chervenata Stena above Bachkovo village, Trigrad village, Mursalitsa massif); 1300–2800 m alt. ], Former Yugoslavia

Habitats: Inhabits limestone rocks and stony places. Populations are fragmented, with small, dense groups (about 100 individuals on 10 – 15 m2). Because of the adaptation to a very specific habitat the two known localities are significantly isolated and contact between them is not possible. 

Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(i,ii,iv,v)]. BDA. Balkan endemic. 

References:

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

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