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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. tomentosa M.S. Baker & J.C. Clausen

WOOLLY VIOLET

Plant 5–10 cm, white-tomentose
Stem ascending or erect from shallow or deep, woody taproot
Leaves simple, generally elliptic to narrowly ovate; basal petiole 10–60 mm, blade 15–50 mm, (sub)entire; cauline blade 20–40 mm, generally entire
Inflorescence: peduncle 10–40 mm
Flower: petals yellow, lowest (including spur) 6–9 mm, veined dark brown, lateral 2 sometimes with short, dark brown veins near base, short-bearded, upper 2 purple or brown outside
Fruit < 5 mm, hairy
Chromosomes: n=6
Ecology: Dry, gravelly places
Elevation: 1500–2000 m.
Bioregional distribution: north-central High Sierra Nevada.Cleistogamous flowers 0.

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