Parma violet
Viola alba
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
51
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola_alba
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Family
Violaceae
Genus
Viola
Parma violet belongs to the family Violaceae, order Malpighiales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Parma violet faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development across its native range. The species is particularly vulnerable to changes in soil chemistry and moisture levels caused by intensive farming practices and climate change, which alter the specific conditions required for its survival.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Parma violet typically inhabits calcareous grasslands, woodland edges, and scrubland on limestone or chalk soils in Mediterranean and temperate European regions. The species requires well-drained alkaline soils with specific moisture conditions and partial shade to full sun exposure.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Parma violet faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development across its native range. The species is particularly vulnerable to changes in soil chemistry and moisture levels caused by intensive farming practices and climate change, which alter the specific conditions required for its survival.
Agricultural expansion and intensive farming
Soil chemistry alteration from fertilizers and pesticides
Urban development and habitat fragmentation
Climate change affecting moisture regimes
Overgrazing by livestock
Found in 51 Countries
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Parma violet (Viola alba). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/parma-violet