Viola odorata
Viola affinis
English violet, garden violet, sweet blue violet, sweet violet, violette odorante
Le Conte's violet, sand violet, violette affine
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.
basal, 1–6, ascending to erect;
stipules lanceolate, margins entire or fimbriate, apex acute;
petiole 2–10 cm, glabrous;
blade green abaxially, unlobed, narrowly to broadly ovate or narrowly deltate, 1.5–10 × 1.5–10 cm, not fleshy, base cordate to broadly cordate or almost truncate, margins crenate to serrate, ciliate or eciliate, apex acute to obtuse, surfaces sparsely pubescent adaxially, rarely glabrous.
4–15 cm, puberulent.
3–15 cm, glabrous or pubescent.
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.
sepals lanceolate to ovate, margins ciliate or eciliate, auricles 1–2 mm;
petals lavender-violet to dull reddish violet on both surfaces, lower 3 white basally and darker violet-veined, lateral 2 bearded, lowest 10–22 mm, usually obviously bearded, rarely beardless, spur white or same color as petals, gibbous, 2–3 mm;
style head beardless; cleistogamous flowers from prostrate to ascending peduncles.
sometimes purple-flecked, ovoid, 5–8 mm, puberulent.
often reddish or purplish-flecked or green, ellipsoid, 5–10 mm, glabrous or puberulent.
brown, 3–4 mm.
beige, mottled to bronze, 1.5–2.5 mm.
= 20.
= 54.
Viola odorata
Viola affinis
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.)
L. E. McKinney (1992) considered Viola affinis, and much of what botanists had called V. nephrophylla, to be essentially the same taxon. After studying additional specimens, reviewing literature (H. E. Ballard 1994; A. Haines 2001b), and discussions with others (J. Cayouette, H. E. Ballard, A. Haines, pers. comm.), he chose to maintain these as separate taxa. Reports of V. affinis in the Gulf coastal states based on specimens or photographs are usually attributable to V. missouriensis.
Viola affinis reportedly hybridizes with V. hirsutula (= V. ×consobrina House), V. cucullata (= V. ×consocia House), V. brittoniana (= V. ×davisii House), V. sororia (= V. ×filicetorum Greene [as species]), V. sagittata var. sagittata (= V. ×hollickii House), and V. nephrophylla (= V. ×subaffinis House).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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