Viola French Alps ID

[JPB]

This plant was collected in the French Alps, Abondance area, in semi shaded locality. I have not seen flowers but it looks like V. hirta.
But the (cleistogamic) seed pods are a little strange to me. Any clues?
Thanks. Hans

[Maggi Young]

An interesting Viola, Hans... is that simply colour marking on the seed pod or it is there texture on it?

[Gerdk]

Sorry Hans, missed your contribution!

This violet has all the characteristics of Viola hirta - even the seed pod is ok (globose, not explosive).
Of course there are a lot of hybrids with related species in the Alps - for exact identification you have to watch the flowers next season.

Gerd

[JPB]

Thanks, Gerd! I didn' t know that V. hirta has such a strange seed pod... I'll watch flowers when in bloom next year..

Hans