Viola riviniana Rchb.
dog violet
Rhizomatous perennial; stems prostrate to ascending, glabrous, 5-20 cm long. Lvs all similar, with fine hairs near margin above, (7)-15-25 × (7)-15-25 mm, ovate-cordate, subacute to acuminate, with > 10 shallow crenations each side; stipules linear, acute, 5-10 × 1-(2) mm, long-fimbriate; fimbriae 1-1.5 mm long; petiole glabrous, (3)-15-40 mm long. Peduncles erect, with very fine hairs above; bracts linear, with 1-4 fimbriae near base or entire, 3-6 mm long. Fls 15-20 mm diam. Sepals narrowly ovate-acuminate, 4-6 mm long; appendages 1-2 mm long. Petals blue-violet, > sepals, the lateral bearded; spur broad, 5-6 mm long, > sepal appendages. Style weakly geniculate at base, 2 mm long; stigma beaked. Capsule ellipsoid, glabrous, 9-12 mm long. Seeds obovoid, yellowish brown, 2 mm long.
N.: Auckland, Opotiki, Wellington; S.: Canterbury, Westland, Dunedin.
Europe 1981
Occasional garden escape in waste land, cultivated land, footpaths, lawns and bush.
FL (Sep)-Nov-Dec-(Jan) FT Dec-Feb.
