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

Viola orphanidis Boiss.

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Synon.:  

Description: Perennial herb, stems 20–50 cm tall, straight or ascending, slightly pubescent. The leaves are alternate, petiolate, 2–4 cm long, the blade is ovate to orbicular, crenate to serrate at the edge, equally long or longer than the petiolate, mainly on the margins and veins slightly hairy;The palisse is 1–2 cm long, deeply  jagged to pinnate, the end segment is obliquely ovate, larger than the remaining part, blunt at the top. The flowers are individual in the axils of the leaves, about 2 cm long; flower stems are much longer than the support leaf; the calyx leaves are 0.8–1.3 cm long; the crown leaves are blue, on the lower crown leaf 1.8–2.4 cm long there is often a yellow spot, the spur is 4–6 mm long, curved, twice as long as the chalice appendages; the bars are 5;the testicle is outer. The fruit is a capsule. 

Distributional Range: Native Europe SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE: Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, Northern Macedonia, south-west Bulgaria Greece (North Central Greece, North Pindos, South Pindos, Central Greece, Athamanika Mountains, Askio, Vermio, Vernon (Vitsi), Voras, Written Beech, Grammos, Kakarditsa, Karava, Lakmos, Pieria) . It is a Balkan endemic extending locally to Sterea Ellas in the south , distinguished by its rather robust stature and dense short clothing 

Habitat: It is a short-lived, soft-pubescent perennial growing in somewhat damp herb and grass communities, generally at 1200–2000 m and preferably on non-calcareous substrate [Woodlands and scrub, High mountain vegetation, Agricultural and Ruderal habitats ]

Note: Viola orphanidis is one of several species named after Theodoros Orphanides, who discovered it on Mt Pelister near Bitola just N of the present Greek border. s. 

References:

1. Dimopoulos, P., Raus, Th., Bergmeier, E. & al., Vascular plants of Greece: An annotated checklist. 31. 2013: p. 364 [Plate 24.8]