Viola grypoceras var. grypoceras f. purpurellocalcarata
Viola grypoceras var. grypoceras f. purpurellocalcarata("Otomesumire")
Japanese name: オトメスミレ（乙女菫） Scientific name:Viola grypoceras var. grypoceras f. purpurellocalcarata
[Overview]
A violet growing in woods and at woodland edges from lowlands to mountains, a perennial.
It has several aerial stems.
The leaves are basal with long petioles, heart-shaped, 1.5–2.5 cm long, with low serrations on the margin.
The stipules are deeply divided like the teeth of a comb.
The flowers are borne at the tips of upright flower stalks 6–10 cm long arising from among the basal leaves or from the leaf axils; they are about 2.5–3 cm across, white, and face sideways.
A pale purple spur extends behind the flower, and nectar collects in it.
The summer flowers are cleistogamous.
The fruit is a capsule that splits into 3 when ripe and scatters the seeds.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, by cuttings, or by division.
It prefers partial shade and well-drained soil rich in humus.
It is easy to grow, but powdery mildew may appear.
Pests include aphids, spider mites, cutworms and Tsumaguro-hyomon.
[Notes]
The Japanese name comes from the fact that Tomitaro Makino discovered it at Otome Pass in Hakone.
