Viola odorata
Viola ocellata
English violet, garden violet, sweet blue violet, sweet violet, violette odorante
pinto violet, two-eyed violet, western heart's ease, western heart's ease or two-eyed or southern two-eyed violet
1–3, ascending to erect, ± glabrous or usually puberulent, on caudex from shallow, fleshy rhizome or deep-seated caudex with fleshy roots.
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 and cauline;
basal: 1–6;
stipules deltate, margins laciniate, apex usually long-acuminate;
petiole 3.7–10 cm, puberulent;
blade ovate, deltate, or subreniform, 1–6 × 1.2–4 cm, base usually cordate to subcordate, margins crenate, usually ciliate, apex acute, mucronulate, surfaces usually sparsely puberulent, glabrous early;
cauline similar to basal except: stipules lanceolate, margins ±fimbriate, sometimes stipitate-glandular, sometimes entire, erose, or ± laciniate;
petiole 0.4–9 cm;
blade ovate to deltate, 1.6–4.4 × 1.1–3.6 cm, base subcordate to truncate, margins crenate to ± serrate, ciliate, apex acute to obtuse.
4–15 cm, puberulent.
1–10 cm, puberulent.
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, margins ciliate, auricles 0.5–1.5 mm;
petals white adaxially, upper 2 and sometimes lower 3 deep reddish violet abaxially, all with yellow area basally, lateral 2 with purple patch basally distal to smaller yellow area, bearded, lowest with yellow patch basally, purple-veined, 5–15 mm, spur yellow or greenish, gibbous, 1–2.5 mm;
style head bearded; cleistogamous flowers axillary.
sometimes purple-flecked, ovoid, 5–8 mm, puberulent.
spherical to spherical-ovoid, 5–11 mm, minutely scabrous.
brown, 3–4 mm.
brown-purple, ca. 2 mm.
= 20.
= 12.
Viola odorata
Viola ocellata
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.)
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