Viola gracilis Sm.

Posted byTrajche DimitrovskiPosted inPlant families, Violaceae

Taxonomy: Fam. Violaceae// Genus: Viola// Species: Viola gracilis Sm.

Determined according to the botanical keys provided by Valentine, Merxmüller and Schmidt in Tutin et al. (1968) and (Micevski, 1995).

Lifeform: Perennial; chemicryptophyte according to the Raunkiær system.

Distribution: Native to the Balkan Peninsula and Turkey according to the distribution information provided by the Plants of the World Online portal (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew); Albania and Turkey according to The Euro+Med PlantBase (Raab-Straube & Henning, 2018+). In North Macedonia it is mainly found in the east mountain region (Micevski, 1995).

Habitat:  Subalpine pastures, grasslands, rocky terrains and clearings of European beech forests from c. 1350 m altitude up to the highest peaks. Frequent species in the subalpine belt.

Flowering period: Spring to fall: MAR, APR, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT.

Viola gracilis– habit. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– habit. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– habit. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– habit. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– habit. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– habit. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– habit. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– flowers. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– flowers. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– flower. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– flower. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– flower. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– flower. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– flower. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– flower with spur and calyx; peduncle with bracts. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– flower with spur and calyx; peduncle with bracts. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– flower with spur and calyx; peduncle with bracts. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– flower with spur and calyx; peduncle with bracts. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– flowering stems – stems are decumbent (lay on the ground at first and than curve upwards). Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– stems with leaves and stipules. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– stems with leaves and stipules. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– stem with leaves and stipules. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– stem with leaves and stipules. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– leaves and stipules. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– leaves and stipules. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– leaves and stipules. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– upper leaves and stipules. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– middle leaf and stipules. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– lower leaf and stipules. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– plant base with basal leaves. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis– lower part of stem with leaves and stipules. Osogovo, Ponikva, 08.05.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.

Viola gracilis – habit. Osogovo – Ponikva, 01.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – habit. Osogovo – Ponikva, 01.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – habit. Osogovo – Ponikva, 01.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – habit. Osogovo – Ponikva, 01.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – habit. Osogovo – Ponikva, 01.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – habit. Osogovo – Ponikva, 01.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – habit. Osogovo – Ponikva, 01.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – habit. Osogovo – Ponikva, 11.03.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.

Viola gracilis – habit in habitat. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – habit. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – habit. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – habit. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – habit. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – habit. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – habit. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – flowers. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – flowers. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – flower. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – flowers. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – flower. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – flowers. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – side view of flower – calyx and spur. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – side view of flower – calyx and spur. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – side view of flower – calyx and spur. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – side view of flower – calyx and spur. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – pedicel. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – upper leaves and stipules. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – stem with leaves and stipules. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – pedicels, stem with leaves and stipules. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – stem with leaves and stipules. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – stem with leaves and stipules. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – leaves and stipules. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – stem with leaves and stipules. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – stem with leaves and stipules. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – leaves. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – leaves and stipules. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – lower leaves and stipules. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – lower leaves and stipules. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – abaxial side of leaves and stipules. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – abaxial side of leaves and stipules. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – abaxial side of leaves and stipules. Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – from left to right: lower, middle and upper stipules . Specimen from Osogovo – region between Visoka chuka (Ponikva) and Ratkova Skala, 15.04.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.

Viola gracilis colonising disturbed ground – margins of earth road. Osogovo – Ponikva, 21.06.2015. Photo taken by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – habit. Osogovo – Ponikva, 21.06.2015. Photo taken by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – habit. Osogovo, Ponikva, 21.06.2015. Photo taken by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Viola gracilis – habit. Osogovo – Ponikva, 21.06.2015. Photo taken by Trajche Dimitrovski.

References:

Micevski, K. (1995). The Flora of the Republic of Macedonia Vol. I, Book 3. Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

Viola gracilis Sm. Plants of the World Online portal, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:868245-1 [Accessed 10.12.2022].

Viola gracilis. Raab-Straube, E. von & Henning, T. (2018+): Violaceae. – In: Euro+Med Plantbase – the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity. Published on the Internet https://europlusmed.org/cdm_dataportal/taxon/abb93e31-9cb9-4464-874b-42bb677a7225 [Accessed 10.12.2022].

Viola L. Valentine, D. H., Merxmüller, H. and Schmidt, A. Tutin, T.G., Heywood, V.H., Burges, N.A., Moore, D.M., Valentine, D.H., Walters, S.M., & Webb, D.A. (1968). Flora Europaea. Volume 2. Rosaceae to Umbelliferae. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 270 – 282.

Last update: 16.02.2024.