Viola stewardiana W. Becker

Herbs perennial; tap roots long. Rhizome robust, densely noded. Underground part of stem procumbent, strongly lignified, very hard, often producing new plants; stems usually several fasciculate, obliquely ascending, 10-15 cm tall, longitudinally angled, glabrous. Basal leaves rosulate; petiole to 5.5 cm; blade triangular-ovate, 1.5-3 × 1.5-2.5 cm, both surfaces with minute brown glandular dots, veins conspicuously raised abaxially, base broadly cuneate or truncate, decurrent to petiole, margin crenate, glandular at apices of teeth, apex mucronate. Stipules of cauline leaves brown, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, basal ones 1-1.2 cm, upper ones only ca. 0.5 cm, margin long fimbriate, apex long acuminate; lower petioles subequaling blades, upper ones shorter than blades, narrowly winged; blades narrowly ovate, rhombic, or triangular-ovate, ca. 4.5 × 2-3 cm, base cuneate, apex mucronate or acuminate. Flowers in upper leaf axils, light violet, long pedicellate; pedicels subequaling or slightly exceeding leaves, with 2 linear bracteoles slightly above middle. Sepals narrowly ovate or oblong-lanceolate, 3-3.5 mm, apex mucronate, basal auricles short, glabrous, margin entire, apex rounded. Petals conspicuously emarginate at apex, upper ones spatulate, ca. 8 mm, lateral ones oblong, glabrous, anterior one narrowly obovate, ca. 1.4 cm (spur included); spur ca. 6 mm, curved downward, apex obtuse; 2 anterior stamens spurless. Ovary ovoid-globose, glabrous; styles slightly geniculate forward at base, gradually thickened upward, without appendages at top, shortly beaked, beaks slightly curved upward, with a larger stigma hole at tip. Capsule subglobose, with scattered brown glands, ca. 6 mm, apex mucronate. Fl. Apr-May, fr. May-Sep. 2n = 20*.

Anhui, Fujian, SE Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, S Shaanxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang.

● Streamsides in mountain valleys, rock crevices; 400-1500 m.