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. ocellata Torr. & A. Gray

WESTERN HEART'S EASE

Plant 5–37 cm
Stem prostrate to erect from generally erect rhizome, finely hairy
Leaves simple; blade base truncate to generally deeply cordate; basal blade midvein 10–60 mm, lower ovate-cordate; cauline smaller, petiole 3–90 mm
Inflorescence: peduncle 10–100 mm
Flower: petals white with yellow base and spur, lowest (including spur) 8–15 mm, with yellow patch near base, lower 3 veined red-purple, lateral 2 bearded with yellow club-shaped hairs, purple eye-spot near base, at least upper 2 deep red-violet outside
Fruit 5–8 mm, minutely scabrous, green
Chromosomes: n=6
Ecology: Rocky or grassy banks, thickets, often on serpentine
Elevation: 150–1100 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California, Cascade Range Foothills, n&s Central Western California
Distribution outside California: sw Oregon
Horticultural information: IRR, DRN: 4, 5 &SHD: 6, 7, 15, 16, 17.