Teide violets
| Teide violets | ||||||||||||
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Teide violets ( Viola cheiranthifolia ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Viola cheiranthifolia | ||||||||||||
| Humb. & Bonpl. |
The Teide violet ( Viola cheiranthifolia ) belongs to the violet family (Violaceae).
description
It is an herbaceous plant that reaches heights of 5 to 15 cm. The growth is spherical. The leaves are densely hairy, thick and entire or slightly curved. The flowers with a short spur are predominantly blue with white and yellow markings. Flowering time is from April to May. The melting snow on the Teides mountain provides just enough water for the plant to thrive in the barren, hostile environment.
Aimé Bonpland and Alexander von Humboldt discovered and named V. cheiranthifolia in June 1799, at the beginning of their great expedition.
distribution
The Teide violet is the highest flowering plant in the Canaries and only grows on Tenerife at altitudes between 2500 and 3500 meters on the Pico del Teide and neighboring mountains at this altitude.
literature
- Richard Pott , Joachim Hüppe, Wolfredo Wildpret de la Torre: The Canary Islands: Natural and cultural landscapes. Ulmer, Stuttgart 2003. ISBN 3-8001-3284-2
- P. Schönfelder: Kosmos Atlas Mediterranean and Canary Islands flora , Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-440-09361-1
- Hohenester / Welss: Excursion flora for the Canary Islands , Stuttgart 1993, ISBN 3-8001-3466-7
