Viola decumbens L.F.

Small perennial shrublet up to about 25 cm high with erect or spreading-erect, woody, minutely papillate branched stems. Leaves alternate, linear, 15-25 mm long, 0.5-2 mm broad, apex acute, somewhat succulent, minutely papillate; stipules adnate to the sessile base of lamina, large and resembling the leaf or reduced, with a small tooth on either side near the base. Flowers axillary, solitary, faintly scented, overtopping the leaves, on thin, usually long pedicels: bracts 2, subopposite in upper half or towards the apex, swollen below with 2 minute lateral teeth. Sepals narrowly ovate-acuminate, 3-5 mm long, produced below point of insertion. Petals purple to violet, veined, the upper 2 pairs subsimilar, narrowly oblong, 5-10 mm long; anterior shorter with a basal tubular blunt spur 2-5 mm long. Stamens with connivent sessile anthers, the apical connective appendage ovate, firm, orange; the 2 anterior stamens each with a long caudate nectariferous appendage projecting into the spur. Ovary globose with numerous ovules, style somewhat sigmoid. Capsule ovoid, 5-9 mm long; seed ovoid, 3 mm, yellow, minutely punctate.