Flora - Beck's Violet

Beck's violet belongs to the violet family (Violaceae), which is distributed through tropical, subtropical and moderate regions and characterized by pleasant smelling monosymmetrical flowers. Beck's violet has a naked stem which is leafless in the lower portions. The stem leaves are somewhat rough and wedge-shaped, and are 25-45 mm in length and 2-5 mm in width. The flowers, with five petals, are irregular, from 2,5-3,8 cm in length, most frequently yellow though deep purple flowers are known. Petals with purple stripes at the base have small yellow spots. The flower has 5 anthers, a single carpel and the ovary is with multiple ovules. The capsule is long and naked, 10 mm in length and 6 mm in width. The blooming period is in May and June. Beck's violet is found at the edge of deciduous forests and underbrush, mountain clearings and glades, at altitudes between 1000 to 1700 meters above sea level.

Beck's violet is endemic to the Dinarid Mountains. It has been located near Žepče, between D. Vakuf and Jajca and between Bugojna and Kupres. The locus classicus is at Smolin near Žepče, at 1100 meters above sea level (F. Fiala, 1895).