WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Violas of Britain and Ireland:

Flowers and whole plant usually smaller than var. odorata; leaves almost orbicular; flowers with deep violet-purple (sometimes almost black) corolla and spur; lateral petals with or without tuft of hairs towards inner end; usually starting to flower in November or even earlier in some years and continuing until March or April. The flowers do not appear to open fully and capsules are rarely formed. Found mainly in the south-west of Britain.

J. W. White:

Mrs. Gregory has shown me another odorata form as var. praecox, an early-flowering violet, which she thinks may be distinct. It has shorter and more slender stolons, and the rosettes bear flowers in their first year, as does V. alba Besser. The flowers are small, blue or purple and scented, with the upper petals exceedingly short and recurved, being thus well separated from the narrow lower ones. Near Weston-super-Mare this plant has been observed flowering from the first days of January. I have searched in several directions but cannot find it about Bristol.

Flora of Gloucestershire:

Var. praecox Greg. 33, 34. 2. Hucclecote, Haines. 5. Almondsbury Hill, Gregory in litt. ; see B.E.C., 1916, 474, and J. Bot., 1918, 15. 7b. Coates, Greenwood.