Viola rupestris F. W. Schmidt

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: April-August.

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, glabrous to grayish papillose hairy, about 3-10 cm tall. Roots rhizomatous, stout with many root hairs. Stem acaulescent, up to 4 cm long. Leaves simple, in rosette, basal, ovate-orbicular to rotundate, about 1-2 x 0.5-1.5 cm across, base truncate to sagittate, margin entire to crenulate, apex rounded or obtuse, glandular punctuate, pilose with reddish brown hairs, stipules lanceolate, margin subentire, dentate ciliate, apex acuminate, persistent, adnate to the petiole, shortly fimbriate, lobed at the apex, about 6-10 mm long, petiole slender, slightly winged above, about 1.5-3 cm long. Flowers bisexual, zygomorphic, white, voilet or purplish, about 1-1.5 cm across, on axillary pedicels, equal or longer than petioles, about 2-4.5 cm long, bi-bracteolate above the middle near apex, sepals 5, subequal, lanceolate-oblong, base usually auriculate, margins scarious, apex acuminate, persistent, about 4-7 x 1-2 mm across, petals 5, subequal, oblong, spreading, apex acute, about 1 cm long, lateral ones bearded at the base, spurred basally, spur cylindrical, about 2-4 mm long. Stamens 5, hypogynous, filaments short, anthers 2 loculed. Ovary superior, ovoid-globose, sessile, 3 carpellary, glabrous, style geniculate at base, papillose, clavate, stigma beaked. Fruit capsule, tri-valved elastically, loculicidal, elliptic-oblong, pubescent or subglabrous, about 0.8 cm long.

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

Alpine and subalpine Himalayas, rocky places and meadows, altitude 1000-4000 m.

Not evaluated (IUCN).