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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.

Introduced

V. tricolor L.

WILD PANSY

Annual (perennial herb) 3–20 cm
Stem angled, slightly winged
Leaves cauline, simple; stipules leaf-like, nearly = leaf, pinnately lobed; petiole 7–33 mm; blade < 20 mm wide, oblong to ovate, coarsely toothed
Inflorescence: peduncle < 90 mm
Flower: sepals < 12 mm, appendages < 4 mm, ear-like, lanceolate, < petal spur; petals mostly blue-violet (rarely yellow), lowest (including spur) 10–15 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=26
Ecology: Uncommon. Disturbed places
Elevation: < 1000 m.
Bioregional distribution: Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area
Distribution outside California: native of Europe
cultivated, profusely self-seeding.

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