Viola hederacea

Common Name:

Ivy-leaf Violet

Family:

Distribution (from Flora of Victoria):

Wannon, Grampians, Midlands, Victorian Volcanic Plain, Otway Plain, Otway Range, Eastern Highlands, Gippsland Plain, Gippsland Highlands, Wilsons Promontory, Snowfields, East Gippsland (CDEJKMNPRSTVWXYZ) also SA, NSW, Tas
Map - Australasian Virtual Herbarium

Distribution and ecological preference at Wilsons Promontory (if known):

Ground cover in tea-tree woodlands and open forests, shady places ¹

Flower Description:

White or mauve with a purple interior ¹

Habit:

Perennial herb to 6 cm high ¹

Distinguishing characteristics (within family/genus):

Leaves are kidney shaped or semi-circular and arise from short, creeping stolons. Single flowers are borne on long, slender stalks and are held above the leaves. Viola hederacea can also be distinguished from V. sieberiana on the flower colour pattern- V. hederacea has mostly 2 coloured flowers (white and purple) whereas the flowers of V. sieberiana are usually a single colour. Flowers are not scented ^1,2

Images:

Links to more images:

Atlas of Living Australia MELU

Links to description of this species:

NSW Flora VicFlora

Conservation status:

Not threatened

References:

¹ Meagher, D. and Kohout, M. (2001). “A field guide to Wilsons Promontory”. Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, Vic.
² Walsh, N. G. and Entwisle, T. J. “Flora of Victoria”, volumes 2 (1994), 3 (1996) and 4 (1999). Inkata Press, Port Melbourne, Victoria