Viola abyssinica Steud. ex Oliv.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Ndundu Lodge, Vumba

Photo: Bart Wursten
Upper Vunduzi valley, Mt Gorongosa

Photo: Bart Wursten
Cottage opposite Ndundu Lodge, Vumba

Photo: Bart Wursten
John Meikle Forestry Estate, Stapleford

Photo: Bart Wursten
Kwaraguza Road, near Troutbeck

Photo: Bart Wursten
Lusero Forest, Nyika National Park

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Synonyms:
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:
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.
Type location:
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	abyssinica: of Abyssinia (Ethiopia)
Habitat:
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:	Oct - Mar
Worldwide distribution:	On mountains from Ethiopia southwards to South Africa; also in Nigeria, Cameroun, Fernando Po and Madagascar
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
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. Fischer, E. & Killmann, D. (2008). Illustrated Field guide to the Plants of Nyungwe National Park Rwanda. University of Koblenz-Landau. Page 572. (Includes a picture). 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. Maquet, P. (1983). Violaceae Flore du Rwanda Spermatophytes Volume II Page 434. (Includes a picture). Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 240. 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:

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Flora of the DRC: Viola abyssinica
Flora of Malawi: 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 abyssinica
African 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