Viola belophylla H. Boissieu

Herbs perennial, acaulescent, 8-15 cm tall. Rhizome whitish to brown, ligneous, long, to 5.5 cm, 3-6 mm in diam., densely noded, with several, scattered, white roots. Leaves basal; stipules whitish or green, outer ones ovate-lanceolate, margin entire, inner ones ca. 1/2 adnate to petiole, free part narrowly lanceolate, margin remotely denticulate, apex acuminate; petiole 2.5-6(-20) cm, narrowly winged in upper part; leaf blade abaxially pale green, adaxially deep green, ovate or narrowly ovate, 2-20 × 1.5-7 cm, both surfaces subglabrous or young leaves puberulous abaxially, base deeply cordate, sometimes 2 lobes overlapping, margin obtusely serrate, apex acute or caudate-acuminate. Flowers white, 1.7-1.9 cm; pedicels purplish in lower part, usually exceeding or subequaling leaves at anthesis, much shorter than leaves at fruiting, sparsely pubescent, 2-bracteolate at or slightly below middle; bracteoles opposite, linear; ca. 1 cm. Sepals oblong or ovate-lanceolate, 5-7 × 3-4 mm, apex obtuse or acute, basal auricles subsquare, 1.8-2.5 mm, 3-veined, apex shallowly or deeply dentate. Petals obovate, lateral ones 1.2-1.3 cm × ca. 4.5 mm, slightly bearded, anterior one 1.6-1.9 cm (spur included); spur cylindric, 5-7 mm, straight, apex rounded. Ovary glabrous; styles slender, ca. 2.5 mm, base slightly geniculate, conspicuously thickened in upper part; stigmas conspicuously margined on lateral sides and abaxially, shortly beaked in front, with a larger stigma hole at tip of beak. Capsule ellipsoid, ca. 1 cm, glabrous. Fl. Apr-Jul, fr. Jul-Sep.

Sichuan, SW Xizang, Yunnan.

● Forest margins, grassy places on shaded mountain slopes, streamsides in mountain valleys; 1900-3200 m.

Viola monbeigii W. Becker.