> Viola sect. Abyssinium Marcussen, sect. nov.  /previously Viola sect. Sclerosium W. Becker

Viola abyssinica Steud. ex Oliv.

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Synonims: Viola abyssinica var. abyssinica Steud. ex Oliv. ; Viola zongia Tul. ; Viola emirnensis Bojer 

Description: Perennial herb with creeping, up to 60 cm long stems, rooting at the nodes. Leaves petiolate, petiole 4–32 mm long; lamina broadly ovate to suborbicular, 0,9–3,2 cm long and 0,7–2,8 cm broad, cordate at the base, margin crenate-dentate, rounded or apiculate at the apex, rather hairless above, hairy below; stipules ovate to linear-lanceolate. Flowers solitary in the leaf axils; pedicel 1–4 cm long, with two bracteoles in the upper part; sepals linear to lanceolate, unequal, appedages absent; petals only slightly exceeding sepals, mauvish or bluish-violet, paler towards the base, spur 2–3 mm long; anthers sessile; ovary globose, glabrous. Capsule ovoid, 4–6 mm long, acute, glabrous. 

Distributional Range: Native Africa NORTHEAST TROPICAL AFRICA: Ethiopia EAST TROPICAL AFRICA: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda WEST-CENTRAL TROPICAL AFRICA: Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda WEST TROPICAL AFRICA: Nigeria SOUTH TROPICAL AFRICA: Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe SOUTHERN AFRICA: South Africa WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN: Madagascar

Habitat: Montane forest margins, bamboo thicket, forest clearings, moist grassland; 1000-2700(-3350) m alt. Fernando Poo (Bioko); S. Africa (Transvaal); Madagascar. Very variable.

Notes: This species is distributed in eastern part of continent, from Eritrea to the Republic of South Africa, smaller area lies in Nigeria, Cameroon and Bioko Is. Some localities are known from Madagascar. There are only 3 species in the Tropical East Africa: Viola nannae is distinguished by rounded to attenuate leaf base, Viola eminii by short basal appendages on sepals and reniform to suborbicular leaves. 

References:

1. Dyer, R. A. et al., eds. 1963-. Flora of southern Africa.

2. Darbyshire, I. Kordofami, M. & al. (2015). The plants of Sudan and south Sudan, An annoted checklist. Kew Publishing

3. Exell, A. W. et al., eds. 1960-. Flora zambesiaca.

4. Grey-Wilson, C. 1980. Notes on African Violaceae. Kew Bull. 36:123.

5. Robyns, W. et al., eds. 1948-1963. Flore du Congo belge et du Ruanda-Urundi

6. Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa. Note: lists as Viola abyssinica Oliv.