Although this is merely a sub species of Viola tricolor, it is to me anyway, quite distinct and one of the plants I always look forward to seeing when exploring any dune system. It can be pure yellow, pure blue or yellow with some blue petals. Although now classed a a rare plant in New Flora of the British Isles Edition3 (2010) by Clive Stace, at Newborough Warren is a common plant. It is also known as the Seaside Pansy. The grass in the left hand photo is another dune specialty: Phleum arenarium ( Sand Cat's-tail)

Viola tricolor ssp curtisii is very much a coastal species and can be found round almost all of the coast of Ireland. On mainland Britain it has a distinctly western distribution with one or two outposts in places like east Anglia. It is common around the coast of Wales, Lancashire, the Mull of Kintyre and the western Scottish islands including the Uists where it is common.

Viola tricolor ssp curtisii Dune Pansy Newborough Warren, Anglesey, 29th May 2008 Previous   Next	Viola tricolor ssp curtisii Dune Pansy Littleferry near Golspie, Sutherland, Scotland, 7th June 2006 Previous   Next
Viola tricolor ssp curtisii Dune Pansy	Viola tricolor ssp curtisii Dune Pansy habitat

Newborough Warren, Anglesey 29th May 2008

Added on 1st October 2004, amended on February 5th 2005, updated 24th February 2012