kingdom Plantae - plants »  divisio Magnoliophyta - flowering plants »  class Rosopsida - eudicots » order Malpighiales »  family Violaceae »  tribus Violeae > genus Viola > Viola sect. Plagiostigma Godr.  > Viola subsect. Stolonosae  Kupffer   

Viola bissetii Maxim.

 | Bio Lib | GRIN| Violet in Japan | Takao 599 museum  |botanic.jp plants|

 Japanese common name: ながばのすみれさいしん  ナガバノスミレサイシン  nagaba-no-sumire-saishin [long leaved viola saisin (‘Saishin’ (Asiasarum) is named after the shape of the leaf resembling the ones of Asiasarum sieboldii (Aristolochiaceae) ] 

1. form Viola bissetii f. albiflora  Nakai 

2. form Viola bissetii f. bissetii 

Distributional Range: Native Asia-Temperate EASTERN ASIA: Japan [Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku]

Habitat:  Viola bissetii Maxim. is a perennial plant that grows at the pool in the humid forests and in the forests along the mountain stream during the early spring. This specie is distributed throughout a region of the Pacific coast, while Viola vaginata with short leaves are widely along the Japan Sea. The leaves are thin and long heart-shaped, and sprout out latter than the blossoms. Consequently, they bear the blossoms with the leaves about 5 to 8 cm long rounded. The flowers are 2 to 2.5 cm in diameter, mainly pale purple color, but we see the white ones mostly at Mt. Takao. When the flowers wither, the leaves grow larger and larger to be about 15 cm long. They develop a thick underground stalk with knots longer to expand 

References:

1. Igari, M. 1996. Wild violets of Japan Note: lists as "Viola bisseti" Maxim.

2. Iwatsuki, K. et al. 1993-. Flora of Japan.

3. Ohwi, J. 1965. Flora of Japan (Engl. ed.).