Viola howellii |
Viola odorata |
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Howell's violet, violette de Howell |
English violet, garden violet, sweet blue violet, sweet violet, violette odorante |
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Habit | Plants perennial, caulescent, not stoloniferous, 2–44 cm. | Plants perennial, acaulescent, stoloniferous, 4–12 cm; stolons green, often rooting at nodes and forming leafy rosettes; rooted rosettes often develop into erect, rhizomatous caudex from which new stolons are produced; rhizome thick, fleshy. |
Stems | 1–4, ascending to erect (sometimes later reclining to nearly prostrate), glabrous or sparsely pubescent, on caudex from subligneous rhizome. |
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Leaves | basal and cauline; basal: 1–6; stipules linear-lanceolate to oblong, margins mostly entire or laciniate with gland-tipped projections, apex acute to acuminate; petiole 4–15 cm, glabrous or sparsely puberulent; blade ovate to reniform, 1.9–6.8 × 2.1–6.4 cm, thin, base cordate, margins crenate, ciliate, apex acute to usually obtuse, surfaces glabrous or sparsely puberulent; cauline similar to basal except: stipules linear-lanceolate or deltate to oblong, apex acute or long-acuminate; petiole 1–4.5 cm; blade 2–5.1 × 1.2–5.8 cm. |
basal (and from stolons), 5–10, ascending to erect; stipules lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, margins fimbriate, projections gland-tipped, apex acute; petiole 2–17 cm, puberulent; blade unlobed, ovate to orbiculate, 1.5–7 × 1.5–5 cm, base cordate, margins crenate, ciliate, apex obtuse to rounded, surfaces puberulent. |
Peduncles | 2.8–17.8 cm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent. |
4–15 cm, puberulent. |
Flowers | sepals lanceolate, margins ciliate or eciliate, auricles 1–2 mm; petals violet to soft blue-violet on both surfaces, whitish basally, lower 3 dark violet-veined, lateral 2 densely bearded, lowest 14–23 mm, spur blue-violet to whitish, gibbous to elongated, 2.4–5 mm, usually less than 1/2 lowest petal, tip straight; style head bearded; cleistogamous flowers axillary. |
sepals narrow to broadly lanceolate, margins ciliate, auricles 3–4 mm; petals deep to pale blue-violet, pale blue, or white on both surfaces, usually white basally, lateral 2 sparsely to densely bearded, lowest usually purple-veined, 12–22 mm, spur usually same color as petals, elongated, 5–7 mm; style head beardless; cleistogamous flowers on prostrate or ascending peduncles. |
Capsules | ellipsoid, 7–11 mm, glabrous. |
sometimes purple-flecked, ovoid, 5–8 mm, puberulent. |
Seeds | light brown, 2.1–2.8 mm. |
brown, 3–4 mm. |
2n | = 40, 80. |
= 20. |
Viola howellii |
Viola odorata |
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Phenology | Flowering Apr–Jul. | Flowering Jan–May. |
Habitat | Moist, shady areas, coniferous forests, prairies, along streams | Lawns, roadsides, clearings, riparian habitats, parks, urban areas |
Elevation | 50–1500 m (200–4900 ft) | 0–1700 m (0–5600 ft) |
Distribution |
CA; OR; WA; BC
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CA; CT; ID; IL; MA; ME; MI; NC; NY; OH; OR; PA; RI; UT; WA; WI; BC; NS; ON; QC; Eurasia [Introduced in North America; introduced also in Australia]
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Discussion | Viola howellii is similar to V. adunca and usually occupies moister habitats along the western side of the Cascade Mountains (H. E. Ballard 1992). The first documented record of this species in California was recently reported from Siskiyou County (R. J. Little 2010). (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Viola odorata occurs in small colonies; individual plants are interconnected by stolons. The flowers of Viola odorata are noted for their fragrance; some plants are more fragrant than others. It is native to Eurasia and assumed to be introduced in North America where it is usually found in areas associated with human habitation, including parks, lawns, and roadsides. A substantial industry revolved around the commercial production of violets in England, France, and the United States from prior to 1895 and into the 1900s (R. E. Coombs 2003). Viola odorata is sometimes found in remote locations not easily explained by anthropogenic influence, for example, Clearwater Mountains, Idaho. It is available through the nursery trade and is cultivated as a garden plant and occasionally reported as an escape. Viola odorata is grown in southern France for essential oils used in perfumes, flavorings, and toiletries, and also for the production of the sweet, violet-colored liqueur called parfait amour (V. H. Heywood 1978). (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 6, p. 134. | FNA vol. 6, p. 140. |
Parent taxa | Violaceae > Viola | Violaceae > Viola |
Sibling taxa | ||
Name authority | A. Gray: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 22: 308. (1887) | Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 934. (1753) |
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