Kingdom Plantae Family Violaceae Scientific name Viola cryana | Order Malpighiales Genus Viola Rank Species | |
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Similar Viola hispida, Acalypha rubrinervis, Viola cuneata, Viola bertolonii, Viola flettii | ||
Viola cryana
Viola cryana, the Cry violet, also known as Cry pansy, is an extinct plant species from the violet genus Viola which was endemic to the French Department Yonne. Vioala cryana was discovered in 1860 but first described in 1878.
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Description
This biennial or perennial herb was not higher than 12 cm and had a glabrous stem. The light green leaves were thick and fleshy. The stipule was cut and had an entire central lobe. The relatively large flowers were zygomorphic. The petals were light violet. The spur was with six to seven millimetres larger than the calyx. The flowering period was from May to June.
Extinction
The Cry violet, once found in the limestone outcrops of the region around Cry, southeast of Tonnerre in France's Yonne department, faced severe threats due to habitat destruction caused by limestone quarrying and over-collection by plant enthusiasts. By 1930, it was presumed extinct in the wild. However, there are indications that the species might have persisted in cultivation until around 1950.
