bio.wikisort.org - Plant

Viola stipularis, is a species of violet that grows in southern Central America, some Caribbean islands and northern South America; from Costa Rica and Guadeloupe south to Peru.[1]

Viola stipularis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Violaceae
Genus:	Viola
Species:	V. stipularis
Binomial name
Viola stipularis Sw.
Synonyms
Ionidium stipulare (Sw.) Schult. Viola begoniifolia Benth. Viola callosa Benth. Viola obliquifolia Turcz.

Description

Herb 20–30 cm tall, spreading by creeping rhizomes.[2][3][4] Petioles up to 8 mm long, surrounded by fringed triangular stipules up to 2 cm long.[3][4] Leaves elliptic to lanceolate-elliptic, up to 9.5 cm long and 3.4 cm wide, margin serrate or crenate, sometimes dentate, apex acuminate, base cuneate.[2][3][4] Flowers with thin pedicels up to 6 cm long, petals pinkish, lavender or bluish-white, blue-veined; lower petal obovate, the upper ones oblong-ovate or oblong-elliptic; up to 9 mm long and 4.5 mm wide; all petals with rounded apex; spur ca 1 mm long; anthers and ovary about almost 2 cm long.[2][3][4] Fruit, an ellipsoid capsule 6–7 mm long containing seeds ca 1 mm long.[4]

Distribution and habitat

Costa Rica, Panama, Lesser Antilles and northern South America south to Peru, in forested hills and montane forests between (150-) 840–3400 m.[1][3][4]

Ecology

V. stipularis can be found in open areas or near summits.[2] It is a colonizer of disturbed habitats such as volcanic debris, and natural or human-caused landslides.[5][6]

References

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