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. pinetorum Greene

Plant 4–22 cm, rosette-forming or not, glabrous to hairy
Stem prostrate to erect from woody taproot
Leaves simple, linear to ovate, generally ± toothed or wavy-margined; blade base tapered, tip acute; basal 4–20 cm, thin or not; cauline 30–150 mm, generally 4 X width
Inflorescence: peduncle 20–90 mm
Flower: lowest petal (including spur) 5–11 mm, lemon-yellow, lower 3 petals veined purple-brown, lateral 2 bearded, upper 2 ± purple-brown outside
Fruit 4–7 mm, puberulent
Chromosomes: n=6
Ecology: Dry places under shrubs or conifers to barren alpine rock
Elevation: 1400–3400 m.
Bioregional distribution: Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Western Transverse Ranges, San Bernardino Mountains, San Jacinto Mountains.Variable; needs study
Horticultural information: TRY; DFCLT.