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. sheltonii Torr.

Plant 3–27 cm
Stems clustered on short, erect rhizome
Leaves basal and cauline, ternate; petiole < 210 mm; blade < 70 mm, generally ± reniform, generally glabrous, leaflets dissected, segments 1–10 mm wide, ± linear to obovate, generally glabrous
Inflorescence: peduncle < 180 mm
Flower: petals deep lemon-yellow, lowest (including spur) 7–18 mm, lower 3 veined brown-purple, lateral 2 bearded with club-shaped hairs, upper 2 brown-purple outside
Fruit 6–8 mm, glabrous to puberulent
Chromosomes: n=6
Ecology: Fir, pine, or oak woodlands, rich or gravelly soil
Elevation: 800–2500 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California, n High Sierra Nevada, San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast Ranges, n Western Transverse Ranges, San Bernardino Mountains, nw Peninsular Ranges, Warner Mountains
Distribution outside California: to Washington, Colorado
Horticultural information: TRY; DFCLT.