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Viola abyssinica
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Photo: Bart Wursten
Lusero Forest, Nyika National Park
Photo: Bart Wursten
Lusero Forest, Nyika National Park
Photo: Bart Wursten
Lusero Forest, Nyika National Park
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| Synonyms: | |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
A rather weedy perennial herb with trailing and creeping stems, rooting at the nodes. Leaves alternate, broadly ovate, hairless above or with a few hairs along the veins, hairy below, distinctly cordate at the base; margin crenate-dentate. Flowers solitary in the leaf axils on a pedicel up to 4 cm long, pale mauve or bluish; lower petal shorter than lateral and upper petals, with dark purple stripes and a spur, 2-3 mm long. Fruit a small 3-sided capsule, 4-6 mm long, yellowish, hairless. |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | abyssinica: of Abyssinia (Ethiopia) |
| Habitat: | Along forest margins and in moist grassland, often scrambling over surrounding vegetation. |
| Altitude range: | Above 1200 m |
| Flowering time: | Oct - Mar |
| Worldwide distribution: | On mountains from Ethiopia southwards to South Africa; also in Nigeria, Cameroun, Fernando Po and Madagascar |
| Malawi distribution: | N,C,S |
| Growth form(s): | Perennial. |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | Issoria smaragdifera smaragdifera (Larval foodplant) |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Content last updated: | Monday 27 August 2018 |
| Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 283. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 58. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 83. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 102. Robson, N.K.B. (1960). Violaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(1) Pages 258 - 260. (Includes a picture). Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 184. |
Other sources of information about Viola abyssinica:
Our websites:
Flora of Burundi: Viola abyssinicaFlora of the DRC: Viola abyssinica
Flora of Mozambique: Viola abyssinica
Flora of Rwanda: Viola abyssinica
Flora of Zambia: Viola abyssinica
Flora of Zimbabwe: Viola abyssinica
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Viola abyssinicaAfrican Plant Database: Viola abyssinica
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Viola abyssinica
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Viola abyssinica
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Viola abyssinica
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Viola abyssinica
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Viola abyssinica
JSTOR Plant Science: Viola abyssinica
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Viola abyssinica
Plants of the World Online: Viola abyssinica
Tropicos: Viola abyssinica
Wikipedia: Viola abyssinica
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