Viola suavis M. Bieb.

Viola species are annual or perennial or rarely undershrubs. Roots rhizomatous or not. Stem present or sometimes absent. Leaves simple, in rosette or not, basal, cordate to ovate-triangular, margin entire, serrate-dentate to pinnatisect, petiole slender to sometimes winged, stipules lanceolate-ovate, margin entire, persistent, free or adnate to the petiole. Flowers bisexual, zygomorphic, irregular 1-2 on long axillary pedicels, usually dimorphic (normal and cleistogamous flowers), white, voilet or purplish, bi-bracteolate, sepals 5, subequal, base usually auriculate, persistent, petals 5, subequal, erect or spreading, lateral ones largest, spurred basally. Stamens 5, hypogynous, filaments short, anthers 2 loculed, free or connivent around ovary, tipped with triangular nectariferous membranous appendages, extending into anterior spurs, within spur of corolla. Ovary superior, sessile, 3 carpellary, ovules many placentae parietal, style erect or slightly curved, stigma variable, triangular or lobed, obtuse or truncate, erect or beaked. Fruit capsule, tri-valved elastically, loculicidal, globose. Seeds many, ovoid-globose, surface smooth, shiny, embryo straight, cotyledons rather thick.

Viola species flowers are complete, bisexual, i.e., with functional male (androecium) and female (gynoecium), including stamens, carpels and ovary or rarely unisexual. Pollination is entomophilous i.e., by insects, or cleistogamy i.e., by self or allogamy i.e., by cross pollination. Flowering/Fruiting: March-June/July-October.

Seeds may be dispersed by autochory i.e., self dispersal, anemochory i.e., wind dispersal, zoochory i.e., dispersal by birds or animals, anthropochory i.e., dispersal by humans.

Perennial herb, stoloniferous, glabrous, about 3-10 cm tall. Roots rhizomatous, slender, densely articulated, stout with many thick root hairs. Stem absent or acaulescent, stolons about 5-15 cm long. Leaves simple, radical, ovate-orbicular to rotundate-oblong, about 1-3.5 x 0.9-3 cm across, base truncate to shallow cordate, margin entire to crenulate, apex obtuse, lateral veins 3-5 on either side of the midrib, glabrous except on the veins beneath where it is hispid, stipules lanceolate, margin ciliate to glandulose fimbriate, apex acuminate, persistent, adnate to the petiole till middle, petiole slender, slightly winged above, about 3-7 cm long. Flowers bisexual, zygomorphic, voilet or purplish, white in centre, about 1.2-1.5 cm across, on axillary pedicels, two to three times longer than petioles, about 5-10 cm long, bi-bracteolate in the middle, sepals 5, subequal, ovate-oblong, base usually auriculate, margins scarious, apex obtuse, persistent, about 5 x 1.5 mm across, petals 5, subequal, oblong-ovate, spreading, about 1.2 cm long, lateral ones not bearded, spurred basally, spur saccate, about 4 mm long. Stamens 5, hypogynous, filaments short, anthers 2 loculed. Ovary superior, ovoid-globose, sessile, 3 carpellary, glabrous, about 2 mm long, ovules many placentae parietal, style geniculate at base, horizontal, stigma beaked. Fruit capsule, tri-valved elastically, globose-oblong, adpressed pubescent.

Viola species are susceptible to various insect pests, powdery mildews, spot anthracnose, rusts and smuts, affecting leaves, stems and roots.

Forests and valleys.

Not evaluated (IUCN).