VIOLACEAE

VIOLET FAMILY

R. John Little

Annual to shrub or vine (generally per in CA)
Leaves basal, cauline, or both, generally alternate, entire to compound; stipules generally small
Inflorescence: head, raceme, panicle, or flowers solitary; peduncle bractlets 2
Flower generally bisexual, generally bilateral; sepals 5, free to slightly fused, generally persistent; petals 5, free, lowest generally spurred or pouched at base; stamens generally 5, alternate petals, filaments short, wide, anthers surrounding ovary, adherent or fused, often with nectaries at base, often with membranous appendage at tip; ovary superior, chamber 1, placentas 3, parietal, ovules generally many, style 1
Fruit: generally capsule, 3-valved, generally explosively dehiscent
Seeds generally appendaged
Genera in family: 15 genera, 600 species: generally temp, worldwide; some cultivated as ornamental; some Eur species medicinally useful as emetics, diuretics, purgatives
Reference: [Brizicky 1961 J Arnold Arbor 42:321–333]

VIOLA

VIOLET

Annual or perennial herb < 35 cm, glabrous to hairy
Leaf entire to compound
Inflorescence: flower generally solitary, axillary
Flower bilateral; sepals subequal, appendaged at base; petals unequal, lowest spurred or pouched at base, lateral 2 equal, generally spreading, often hairy near base, upper 2 equal, erect; lower 2 stamens with nectaries projecting into spur
Fruit: capsule, ovoid to oblong
Etymology: (Latin: ancient name)
Reference: [Clausen 1964 Madroño 17:173–197]
Cleistogamous flowers generally present. Seeds often dispersed by ants that feed on seed-appendages.

Native

V. lobata Benth.

PINE VIOLET

Plant 5–46 cm
Stem erect from spreading or erect rhizome
Leaves simple; basal 0–2, petiole 50–215 mm; cauline only near stem tip, petiole generally 10–50 mm, blade 15–150 mm wide, reniform, deltate, ovate, or diamond-shaped, entire to dissected, segments entire to toothed, glabrous or hairy, sometimes glaucous
Inflorescence: peduncles only from upper axils, 20–130 mm
Flower: petals yellow, all or lower 3 veined purple-brown toward base, lowest (including spur) 8–19 mm, deep yellow, lateral 2 yellow-bearded, upper 2 purple to brown-purple outside
Fruit 6–16 mm, glabrous
Chromosomes: n=6
Ecology: Dry, shaded or open woodlands
Elevation: 150–2300 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Peninsular Ranges
Distribution outside California: s Oregon, n Baja California

Native

subsp. lobata

Leaves: cauline blade generally wider than long, generally reniform to ± ovate or deltate, palmate-lobed or -dissected, lobes or segments 3–12, fine- or coarse-serrate to generally entire
Ecology: Habitats of sp.
Elevation: 150–2300 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Peninsular Ranges
Synonyms: subsp. psychodes (Greene) Munz
Horticultural information: DRN, DRY, SHD: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18; DFCLT.