Hi !
Woooooooooooo gorgeous one ! :-)
I had a look on Igari's book but didn't find it :-( The flower could be japanese but leaves...I tried that one: http://www.plantsindex.com/aster/viola/index_e.htm but nothing either.
Does it make seeds ? Could be an hybrid...where did you get it ?
Hope someone will be luckier than I :-/

All the best !
Thierry.

Hi Thierry

The plant came from a river bank in the Blue Mtns, west of Sydney, Australia. It doesn't fit within any of the groups of our native violets. So I am not sure if the plant is a native or introduced. The area is very remote, so makes introduced less likely, but being along a river means it is not impossible.

The plant does the typical thing of flowering in spring then sets seed without flowering in summer. (Sorry, I forgot the technical term for this)

Regards Andrew

G'day :-)

Ooooooooooooooooooooops, an aussie girl !LOL
Well, if this beauty is into a cleistogamy behaviour (making seeds without flowers), it 's probably not an hybrid. As far as hybrids are supposed to be steril.
Is it a new specy from hederacea ?? You've got a VERY VERY VERY interesting violet !! Definitively !!! A "new" native australian violet ?
I was just given an interesting paper called "New species and a new hybrid in the viola hederacea species complex..." (Thx Nathalie ;o)): not an easy reading...don't see anything about yours !

Most of all, keep yours, take care of it, make many and so on :-)) Must be a rare one not to have been identified before !

All the best :-)
Thierry.

Interesting..
Why not searching for a violet from New Zealand?

Viola lyallii...???

a bit hasardous..should be confirmed of course by specialists in situ...

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1338424}}

...actually it also reminds me the tiny Viola verecunda!

Hi again !

J'ai cru voir une Nathalie ;o)
More seriously...quite difficult to find information about aussie violets.
I think I found your Andrew: viola caleyana !

What do you think ??

Take care :-)
Thierry

Here is a link that might be useful: NEW SOUTH WALES FLORA ONLINE

Hi Thierry & Nathalie

Thanks for the response. All those species mentioned look similar, but I think that Viola caleyana looks the closest. Those very narrow petals look the same.

As you said, there is not a lot of information about this species available. Maybe a trip to the Botanical gardens is required next time it flowers.

Regards Andrew

Hi All,
I happily stumbled on these posts whilst searching for information about my violet whose leaves looks exactly like Andrew's pix, but not shiny. Can't describe the flowers 'cos it is summer here (Tasmania) and no flowers, just buds opening to star shaped seed pods. The closest I came was viola caleyana, as suggested by Thierry, but leaf is not narrow, but perfectly heart shaped and dark green. Bought it from a flower seller at a market as a 'native violet', and did not see a latin name. But your discussion leaves me hopeful that I will see flowers in spring! Love your site, delighted to have found it.

Cheers,

Zoe

Here is a link that might be useful: Flickr

Hi Zoe !

God, a new one !! LOL. Like that :-)
Hope you'll show us the blooms, both flower and leaves are important to identify :-)
I've ever seen an hederacea violets making that kind of leaves in the web, here's a pic. I don't know much about that red leaved hederacea...I guess many things must be done about violets in that corner of the world.

All the best :-)
Thierry.

G'day Thierry,

Wouldn't it be good if it was a new one .... a "viola wollemi" :-)))

Thanks for your suggestion re hederacea - can't say about the flowers as I haven't seen any yet. None of the leaves are kidney shaped, though - even the immature leaves are cordate, with a dark purplish colour maturing to dark green.

Will post a pic of the flowers to sort the issue the minute I see one.

Cheers,

Zoe

G'day mate ô_O
Etii , I am a little bite suspicious of your "purpule hederacea". I think it's just a mistake, it's may be viola labradorica ( I know it's a wrong name, but everybody know it :-p ) Just young seedlings, in a kinds of pots I saw in Australia for the first time. It's not hederacea, I am quite sure.
"No worries mate"
Have fun ;-)

Hi folks !

Yan: donno :-/ It could be a riviniana purpurea also...isn't it a bit too green for that one on Zoe's pic ? Or it's a cross riviniana X riviniana purpurea ;o)
Zoe: a violet wollemi LOL ! I wish...Flowers are the issue :-)

Ci@o
Thierry.

Hi Guys!

I am impressed at both your vast knowledge of plants, and Aussie-isms!!

I think the riviniana purpurea suggestion has nailed it ...
this picture I found has exactly the same leaf, but of course the flower (when it appears) will confirm it.

www.bethchatto.co.uk/.../index1.html

Toot alors, mes amis francais - mon franglais est trop mal mais merci beaucoup et je reviens!

Zoe

Bonjour,

Good try with your French; quelle plaisir :o)
Don't be impressed: mistaking is the rule, trying a pleasure and the very few knowledge I have is only on violets. I don't manage them, I'm under their control ;oP They play with me lol.
What about the link you gave us ? Only 5 violets and so many pansies (Can't stand them, wonder why sometimes !).

Bonne journée :-)
@+
Thierry.