Viola stipularis

Viola stipularis, is a species of violet that grows in southern Central America, some Caribbean islands and northern South America; from Costa Rica and Guadeloupe south to Peru.

Description
Herb 20–30 cm tall, spreading by creeping rhizomes. Petioles up to 8 mm long, surrounded by fringed triangular stipules up to 2 cm long. Leaves elliptic to lanceolate-elliptic, up to 9.5 cm long and 3.4 cm wide, margin serrate or crenate, sometimes dentate, apex acuminate, base cuneate. Flowers with thin pedicels up to 6 cm long, petals pinkish, lavender or bluish-white, blue-veined; lower petal obovate, the upper ones oblong-ovate or oblong-elliptic; up to 9 mm long and 4.5 mm wide; all petals with rounded apex; spur ca 1 mm long; anthers and ovary about almost 2 cm long. Fruit, an ellipsoid capsule 6–7 mm long containing seeds ca 1 mm long.

Distribution and habitat
Costa Rica, Panama, Lesser Antilles and northern South America south to Peru, in forested hills and montane forests between (150-) 840–3400 m.

Ecology
V. stipularis can be found in open areas or near summits. It is a colonizer of disturbed habitats such as volcanic debris, and natural or human-caused landslides.