Viola riviniana

Hain- violet (Viola riviniana )

The Hain- violet (Viola riviniana ) belongs to the family of Violet Family ( Violaceae ) and was elected to the flower of the year 2002. This Veilchenart is named after August Quirinus Rivinus.

Occurrence

The Hain- violet flowers from April to June deciduous forests and there is usually present together with oak, birch, beech and hornbeam. Furthermore, it is found in sparse bushes and on poor grass. Throughout Germany and parts of Europe, except in the alpine areas, it is a common component of the flora.

Identifying

The Hain- Violet is a deciduous, perennial, herbaceous plant. These half- rosette plant reaches stature heights of 10 to 30 cm. It can survive the winter with its rhizomes.

It has 14 to 22 mm long, flashy bright violet colored flowers. The often bluish crowded petals overlap and often the lowest petal is much veined. In the outline of the flower appears almost square. The whitish spur is thick and slightly emarginate at the top. The appendages of the calyx are about 2 mm long and often larger and ausgerandet for fruit time.

The Hain- violet can be easily confused with the hybrid Viola × bavarica, which has a light violet spur.

Ecology

As pollinators act insects, especially flies. The seeds are either self- spreading or be carried off by ants. Rarely, cleistogamous flowers occur that do not open and fertilize in the closed state itself.

Species concept

It should be mentioned that the concept of species of Viola riviniana in the UK, Denmark and the Netherlands is taken otherwise. After approximately V. riviniana may well have a purple spur and not as pronounced calyx appendages. Accordingly, the definition of Viola reichenbachiana is adjusted. Hybrids between these two species are then on no longer so common. ( STACE 1975: 156f, STACE 1991 RICH & Jermy 1998: 113 ), ( Meijden 1990: 268 ), ( Hansen 1988: 208).