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. adunca Sm.

WESTERN DOG VIOLET

Plant 6–30 cm
Stems clustered on thin, much-branched rhizomes, branched, compact, generally elongating late-season, generally hairy
Leaves simple, basal, cauline; petiole 5–70 mm; blade 5–40 mm, round-ovate, generally crenate, ± thickish, glabrous to hairy, base truncate to cordate, tip obtuse
Inflorescence: peduncle < 100 mm
Flower: petals pale to deep violet, lowest (including spur) 8–16 mm, lower 3 white at base, purple-veined, lateral 2 white-bearded, often curved or hooked at tip
Fruit 6–11 mm, glabrous
Chromosomes: n=10
Ecology: Damp banks, meadow edges in forests
Elevation: 6–3500 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province (generally mtns)
Distribution outside California: to Alaska, Colorado, e N.America
Synonyms: var. oxyceras (S. Watson) Jeps
Plants in c SNH (Yosemite) with petals white (except inside bases violet-tinged) and spur violet have been called var. kirkii V. Duran
Horticultural information: IRR, DRN: 2, 3, 7, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 &SUN: 1, 4, 5, 6, 15, 16, 17.