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

Viola scorpiuroides Coss.   

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Distributional Range: Native Africa NORTHERN AFRICA: Egypt, Libya Europe SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE: Greece (s. & Crete)

Habitat: Viola scorpiuroides is a small shrub of rocky phrygana and steep banks up to 600m. It flowers from December to April, producing many small (no larger than 1 cm) sweetly scented rich yellow flowers. with two characteristic dark spots.

It belongs to the North African element of the Cretan flora (it grows in Libya and Egypt) and is only found at the eastern and western ends of the island. In Greece it also grows on Kythira and Antikythira. It is listed as rare in the Greek Red Data Book. 

References:

1. Ali, S. I. & S. M. H. Jafri, eds. 1976-. Flora of Libya.

2. Boulos, L. 1999-. Flora of Egypt

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