Viola arborescens L.

Spice Flower In the field

Family: VIOLACEAE

Genus: Viola

Catalan common name: Rabassa llenyosa.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): South Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Chameophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Pine wood and shrubland with rosemary and thyme garigue. Garriques and forests.

Characteristics: A small woody shrub branched from the base. Leaves are elongate, inwardly curved and pubescent. Flowers have long peduncles, and are pale violet in colour with dark striations. Can easily be told apart from the other violets by its habitat, its woody character and its leaf form.