| Viola ucriana | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Violaceae |
| Genus: | Viola |
| Species: | V. ucriana |
| Binomial name | |
| Viola ucriana Erben & Raimondo | |
Viola ucriana is a species of plant in the Violaceae family. It is a violet that is endemic to Sicily in Italy, where its known in Italian as Viola di Ucria.
Viola ucriana is only found on Mount Pizzuta, near Palermo in north-western Sicily, growing above the Piana degli Albanesi at an altitude of 800–1,300 metres (2,600–4,300 ft). [2] Its natural habitats are in Mediterranean shrubby vegetation and rocky areas here.
The only known populations are in two localities, covering a total area of 0.2 square kilometres (0.077 sq mi). [2] It is an IUCN Red List Critically Endangered plant species and IUCN Top 50 Campaign Mediterranean Island Plants, threatened by habitat loss. [2]
Viola ucriana is perennial, evergreen herbaceous plant, with elongated upper leaves and lower leaves gathered forming a cushion at the base. The greyish green leaves are partially hairy. The flowers are yellow, with yellowish-green spur. The plants predominantly flowers in late Spring, between April and June. [2]